The operation of Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains to Ramanagaram will have to clear an additional hurdle.
While starting operations at the maintenance shed in Banaswadi in the coming months will allow South Western Railways (SWR) to introduce more MEMU services, it has to deal with electricity transmission lines crossing over railway property on Mysuru Road.
According to officials, there are some old transmission lines running over a few points on the Bengaluru City-Ramanagaram route. These will have to be removed before the railways can lay their own lines for operating MEMU services. However, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has not been able to shift these lines to alternative locations due to lack of space.
No alternative
“The Railways have spoken to us about our lines crossing over their platform at Nayandanahalli Junction. The problem is that we don’t have any alternative routes in those areas. These are lines which were set up a long time ago and the area has developed since then,” a senior KPTCL official said.
There are more such crossings on the route where KPTCL says that there is no alternative.
“If they can give us the space, we will shift those lines. We can give them the exact plan to follow. They can hire a qualified contractor to execute the work,” the official said.
Till the issues are ironed out, MEMU services to Ramanagaram cannot be started.
Sanjiv Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, said, “While we cannot move those lines due to lack of space and the Commissioner for Railway Safety has refused clearance. But, we have applied to the Railway Board to overrule the decision of the CRS.” But it has been two years since the plea was placed before the Railway Board.
KPTCL has not been able to shift these lines to other locations due
to lack of space
