MYSORE: The long-pending demand for a railway link between Mysore and Thalassery in Kerala has been revived with the Mysore-Thalassery Railway Line Action Committee proposing an alternative route between the two destinations that steers clear of forest areas.

After the earlier proposals for a rail link between the two places were rejected by the Railways on the grounds that they would pass through core forest areas and disturb the fragile ecosystem, the action committee met Minister of State for Railways R. Velu at Shravanabelagola on Tuesday with an alternative railway route that not only skirts forest areas, but also passes through densely populated towns.

Convener of the joint action committee of Mysore-Thalassery railway line M. Ramachandran told The Hindu that the proposed route would, however, be 165 km, about 25 km more than the earlier route.

Mr. Ramchandran said the Minister promised to take up the proposal if it does not pass through forest areas. "We are hoping that Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will order a survey of the proposed route when he presents the Railway Budget," he said.

The new route proposed by the committee starts from Kadakola, passes through Hura, Hullahalli, Saragur, Kabini, Karapur, Machur, D.B. Kuppe, Bavali, Chelur, Palvelicham, Payyampalli, Mananthavadi, Valad, Vilangad, Nadapuram and Panur.

The earlier railway line between Mysore and Thalassery was proposed through Kodagu via Bandipur forests. But, the proposal was rejected after preliminary survey proved that the railway track would be cutting across forest areas.

The committee hopes that the route will reduce the distance between Bangalore and important cities of Kerala such as Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kochi, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram.

Te proposed route will also reduce the distance between Bangalore and Kannur by about 80 km, Mr. Ramachandran said. The proposed railway line will also make some of the famous pilgrimage centres in Kerala such as Sabarimala, Guruvayur, Kottiyur and Thirunelli easily accessible from Karnataka, he said.

The committee felt that the alternative railway route will make cargo movement smoother. "If the proposed railway link comes through, it will ensure a free movement of containers and cargo from Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad and other cities to Kochi," Mr. Ramachandran said. The delegation that met Mr. Velu comprised members K. Cyriac Philip, N.K. Rajendra Babu, Pavithran and others.

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