News Detail

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Kerala has written to the Centre expressing readiness to share the cost of laying the proposed Nanjangud-Sultan Bathery stretch of the rail line up to Nilambur.&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">CM Oommen Chandy has informed Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge of the state&rsquo;s readiness.&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">He urged that the state&rsquo;s proposal to bear the proportionate cost of the development of the rail line should be accorded top priority.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The initiative of the state is against the backdrop of the fact that the rail line would emerge as a link between the hilly Wayanad district and the outside world in a big way and also contribute to the development of industry, commerce, tourism and IT sectors in the state. The proposed rail line from Nanjangud to Nilambur, covering a distance of 72 kilometres, has a total expenditure outlay of INR 641.79 crore. The railways have already decided to take up a survey in the Sultan Bathery-Nilambur stretch.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">He noted that Wayanad district was devoid of a rail link now and had only limited travel facilities.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The proposed line will be the easiest connect for the state&rsquo;s commercial hub Kochi to Mysore and Bengaluru.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color:rgb(105, 105, 105); font-family:arial; font-size:11px; line-height:1.6em">It will also become the shortest path from the state capital to New Delhi. The rail line would also bring down the road traffic in the Western Ghats considerably and through it, contribute immensely to the cause of eco conservation, Chandy said.</span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Meanwhile, in Bangalore, Sanjay Gubbi, scientist from Nature Conservation Foundation, Western Ghats programme said:&nbsp; &ldquo;This railway line will create havoc in wildlife. It will cut across Bandipur and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves. Almost on a daily basis we hear of elephants being killed by train accidents in Assam, West Bengal and other areas.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&ldquo;We cannot afford this in Bandipur. The Wildlife Action Plan drafted under PM&rsquo;s chairmanship has also mandated that highways and railway lines should bye-pass protected areas and important wildlife corridors. When such guidelines exist how new railway lines can be permitted inside one of the best tiger and elephant habitats?&rdquo;</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>