Railways take up feasibility survey for track realignment near Mysuru airport

Non completion of track electrification near Mysuru airport makes it difficult to operate electric trains beyond Ashokapuram on the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar route.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

Technical issues which evaded solution for completing the railway track electrification work near the city airport is likely to be resolved in due course, with the authorities set to opt for either track realignment or take up underground construction.

The track electrification work between Mysuru and Chamarajanagar has been completed at a cost of nearly ₹20 crore, but a short stretch near the airport at Mandakalli has not been taken up as the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has refused to issue No Objection Certificate (NoC) to proceed with the works.

The issue is pending since nearly three years and no solution is in sight as the AAI has cited technical reasons for its refusal to issue NoC. For, the railway line abuts the runway of the Mysuru Airport and there are concerns that the overhead catenary system that supplies electricity to locomotives can cause electromagnetic interference with the navigation system of flights and compromise safety. 

As a result the railway authorities have not been able to complete the pending electrification work, in the absence of which electric train services including the MEMU services cannot be introduced between Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.

However, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has indicated that the vexed issue is likely to be resolved with the railways and the AAI set to take a decision based on a feasibility survey for two options.

The railway authorities have invited tenders for conducting feasibility survey for shifting of the existing railway alignment near the affected area close to the airport. The survey will also provide a feasibility report on taking up under ground construction to overcome the problem.

The tender was closed on November 30, 2024 and once the report was submitted, the two agencies will study the best option to resolve the issue.

However, sources in the railways pointed out that a realignment of the existing track will pose additional problems of fresh land acquisition in an area which was fast developing and replete with new housing layouts.

At present, trains can be hauled by electric locomotives only till Ashokapuram on the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar section. As a small stretch is yet to be electrified, the railways are forced to run trains hauled by diesel locomotives. In case of long-distance trains originating from other parts of India, there has to be a locomotive change from electric to diesel at Mysuru, all of which reduces operational efficiency.

The extension is deemed imperative to help decongest the Mysuru railway station which is choked due to heavy traffic.

S. Yogendra, a railway activist advocating greater railway connectivity as mass transport system, said introduction of MEMU trains has also been affected due to non-completion of track electrification. Passenger traffic was bound to grow due to rapid industrialisation around Nanjangud and completion of track electrification should receive priority, he added.