Title - Finally trial train engine chugs off

Finally, the long-pending demand of the people of Chikmagalur will be realised. The work on Kadur-Chikmagalur railway line is nearing completion. About 46 km railway line work has been completed.

A train engine had made trial run on Kadur-Chikmagalur line. The engine had reached railway station on Friday at 7.30 pm. When the engine reached Chikmagalur, MLA C T Ravi and other BJP leaders had welcomed the engine and celebrated the occasion. 

The work on constructing a full-fledged railway station, officers quarters at Hiremagalur is under progress. The work on Junction at Sakharayapattana, Bisalehalli and Kanivehalli is nearing completion. Tunnels have been constructed by drilling huge rocks at Hosakote and Kanivehalli to lay the railway line. About 400 metre long over bridge has been constructed at Lakya and 300 metre bridge at Uddeboranahalli. The estimated cost of the bridges is Rs 25 crore.

The two bridges will attract tourists. A travel in train will be a romantic experience on the route. The train service from Kadur to Chikmagalur was one of the long-pending demands of the district. When Indira Gandhi had contested the by-election from Chikmagalur, she had promised to implement railway project and Honnammanahalla scheme, once she is elected to the Parliament. The survey for Chikmagalur-Kadur route was okayed when P V Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. It was during the reign of Deve Gowda as Prime Minister, a sum of Rs 10 crore was released to carry out the survey work.

However, the project got delayed owing to lack of will power among the elected representatives. MLA C T Ravi said that the work on the track will be completed within five to six months. Later, passenger and goods train service will be introduced on the route. The work on concreting the road which provides connectivity to railway station will be taken up soon.