Notwithstanding the popular demand for additional services, the Railway Board has taken a pragmatic view of ground realities before sanctioning a project.
A senior official in the Mysore Division pointed out that until the infrastructure was in place, the Railway Ministry will not announce a project and even if it does so, the date of actual commissioning will be kept in abeyance till infrastructure needs were met. Sources in the Railways said the need of the hour was an increase in allocation of funds towards ongoing railway line projects.
The official explained that it was impossible to introduce any more long-distance trains from Mysore as the city railway station had only 3 pit lines for maintenance. “Primary maintenance of each train requires at least six hours, and so we require additional pit lines sanctioned for the city. The proposed satellite stations at Belagola must get funds for additional pit lines, without which new trains cannot be introduced,” he added.
