Financial crunch coupled with the current focus on passenger amenities and completion of last mile projects has derailed the ambitious plan of expanding the Rail Museum at Mysuru for the second time in recent years.
Though an expression of interest (EoI) for its expansion was floated in 2013, there were no takers for it. The concept was mooted almost 10 years ago and there was slight progress in the initial stages as railway land was earmarked for the purpose. Last year, the authorities acquired antique furniture and shifted a few meter gauge wagons to the museum.
But the core of the expansion plan — construction of an amphitheatre and introduction of a sound-and-light show complete with the signature sound of the steam locomotive—has been put in the backburner. There is no further progress in the project as it is now reckoned to be a non-priority issue.
Divisional Railway Manager, Rajkumar Lal, said the amount required for the project – about Rs.2.5 crore to Rs.3 crore – has not been released.
“The project has been approved by the Railway Ministry … funding is for priority areas and hence the expansion will be delayed,” he said.
“However, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, had evinced interest in the concept as it pertained to rail heritage of the country and had sanctioned Rs.80 lakh,” Mr. Lal said. The amount will be utilised for shifting the rail model layout located on platform number 1, Mr. Lal said.
Established in 1979, the Mysuru Rail Museum is the second such exhibition in the country after Delhi’s National Rail Museum.
The Mysuru Rail Museum features locomotives, signalling system, metre and narrow gauge coaches, mechanical and electrical equipment of the vintage era used by the railways.
Among its prized exhibits is the ‘Maharani’s Saloon’ built in 1899 at a cost of Rs. 29,508. This carriage has a pantry with an ancient grinding stone. Maharani’s Saloon’s counterpart — Maharaja’s Saloon — is on display at the National Rail Museum, Delhi.
The earlier plan to strip a coach and convert it into a restaurant on the lines of the rail coach restaurant in Bhopal too did not take off.
