Work on new railway terminal likely to begin by March next

G.T. Deve Gowda, district in-charge Minister, and Pratap Simha, MP, inspecting a site at Nanganahalli on Friday.

The new railway terminal for Mysuru to come up at Naganahalli and approved in last year’s budget, has inched forward with authorities promising to expedite the land acquisition process to begin the works by March 2019.

The project is estimated to cost around ₹789 crore and will entail creating a new facility for operating additional services from Mysuru to rest of India.

G.T. Deve Gowda, district in-charge Minister; Pratap Simha, MP, Mysuru; and senior officials of the district administration conducted a site inspection at Naganahalli on Friday and took the local community into confidence.

The crux of the issue revolves around compensation. Mr. Gowda and Mr. Simha assured the farmers that they would receive compensation as per the prevailing market rate or even higher in lieu of forfeiting their land. The project requires nearly 400 acres for laying of new stabling lines, pit lines, and construction of atleast six platforms, among other works.

Allaying fears over the quantum of compensation Mr. Simha said the Centre was prepared to pay upto ₹1 crore or more per acre. The farmers of Naganahalli said the land around the village was fertile and hence they should be paid a higher rate. Mr. Gowda promised the local community jobs based on their educational qualification besides compensation for surrendering their land.

The detailed project report was being prepared by the construction wing of the Railways and was expected to be ready by November after which it would be submitted to the Railway Board for final approval.

Mr. Simha said though Mysuru was hardly 140 km from Bengaluru, it did not witness rapid growth and development due to lack of connectivity. But this was set to change with the upgrading of the existing highway to a 10-lane national highway, upgrading of Mysuru airport to facilitate the introduction of long haul flights from the city to the rest of the country – both of which would compliment the track doubling and electrification of railway line between Mysuru and Bengaluru which has been completed.