A little more than 10 years after receiving administrative approval, the track doubling work between Mysuru and Ramanagaram is set to be officially completed this month.
The 94-km Mysuru-Ramanagaram doubling-cum-electrification work, which is part of the 139-km Mysuru-Bengaluru track doubling project, received administrative approval in February 2007. The work is finally about to be completed, at a snail’s pace of about 9 km a year.
The Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) is tentatively scheduled to conduct speed trials and track inspection of the 1.5-km stretch from Cauvery south bridge near Srirangapatana to Pandavapura on July 15.
Once the CRS inspection is completed and clearance issued, passenger trains will also run on the stretch, thus marking the official completion of the entire track doubling work between Mysuru and Bengaluru. Work on the 1.5-km stretch was held up by the shifting of the Tipu armoury at Srirangapatana railway station, necessitated as the track alignment bisected the monument and it had to be moved without being damaged. The armoury was relocated with expertise from the United States in March this year, following which the tracks were also laid and the work completed.
Though the railway authorities have periodically conducted the “engine roll” to test it for stability, the track will be cleared for passenger train movement only after inspection by the CRS and his final clearance.
In terms of reduction in commuting time, an official said 99% of the track doubling work was completed in 2014 and the benefits to passengers, by way of decrease in journey time, kicked in soon after. Besides, the project resulted in augmentation of track capacity and introduction of new trains — something that was not possible on a single track route.
However, removal of speed restriction on the Mysuru-Naganahalli section and clearance of the 1.5-km stretch on the second track by the CRS will reduce travel time by seven minutes, a senior official said.
Electrification
Meanwhile, the track electrification work taken up concurrently is set for completion by the end of this month or early August. Wires have been drawn from Yeliyur to Naganahalli.
Incidentally, the CRS inspection from Ramanagaram to Yeliyur was completed on April 5, 2017. Officials say only the wiring at Mysuru station and along certain stretches to Yeliyur was pending. But introduction of electric services till Mysuru will be subject to the completion of the power sub-station at Yeliyur.
