Amidst stiff opposition by Green Groups in Kodagu: Centre gives nod for Thalassery-Mysuru Railway Line via South Kodagu

Kozhikode/Madikeri: Even as the concerned people and Green Groups of Kodagu are vehemently opposing the two Railway Lines (Thalassery-Mysuru via South Kodagu and Hunsur-Periyapatna-Kushalnagar-Madikeri-Mangaluru) cutting across the ecologically sensitive district, the Railway line to Thalassery seems to become a reality soon with the Union Government according in-principle approval to the long-pending Thalassery-Mysuru rail line project at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,052 crore. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has received the green signal from the Union Government. The DPR is for a 240-km-long rail line connecting Thalassery with Periyapatna in Karnataka through Wayanad. The Office of Kerala Public Works Minister G. Sudhakaran (who is in charge of Railway projects in the State) confirmed the project has received the approval from the Centre. K. G. Padmakumar, Additional Private Secretary to the Minister, said the Minister had held a meeting with Indian Rail Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani in Oct. 2017, to discuss the project. “The Minister will meet Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Jan. 17 to finalise the details. The Centre will consider the project in the coming budget on Feb.1, 2018,” he said. KRDCL Managing Director V. Ajith Kumar said the DPR suggested the most feasible alignment and cost. “As per the DPR, the rail line will pass through Kannur and Wayanad districts and offer direct link to Mysuru and Bengaluru,” he said. Even as Kerala is pressing for the Railway line across Kodagu, some leaders in Kodagu are protesting against this project. Among them are M.C. Nanaiah, former Law Minister and Col. Cheppudira P. Muthanna, President, Coorg Wildlife Society.