Prospects
of Wayanad railway
History
A rail line to connect Wayanad with Mysore was under active
consideration since 1880 as evident from the records of Mysore people’s
council. Surveys for Nanjangud - Wayanad
railway line was conducted in the years 1906, 1916-17 and 1924. (Copy of Reports are available at Us )
During 1999
survey of Nanjangud - Badakara line was held.
The proposed line passes through Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta, Vythiri,
Poozhithode and Nadapuram.
During 2004 survey of Nanjangud-Sulthan Bathery-
Nilambur line was conducted. Thereafter
during 2009 survey for this line was
again held as 2 sectors ie. Nanjangud-
Sulthan Bathery (72 k.m.) and Sulthan Bathery - Nilambur road (164 k.m). During 2010 Railway Bord has accorded
in principal sanction for this line.
Whether fund a constraint?
There is a
popular fallacy that constraint of fund prevents railways from taking up new
projects. But the 2012-13 railway budget
has allocated Rs. 6872 cores for new lines.
The budget has sanctioned 45 new lines with own fund and 11 new lines
with state governments participation.
The rail budget specifically
states despite of constrains new lines would be considered. ( Para 45 of railway budget 2012-13)
VISION
2020 for Railways categorically states that Railways
must reach the remote and underserved areas of the country, aiming at improving the connectivity to far-flung areas
and large districts unconnected by the Railways today, to bring them into
the national mainstream of development. The
Vision 2020 also proposes to add 25,000
kms of new Lines by 2020,of which,at least 10,000 kms would be socially
desirable lines regardless of their economic viability in the short run.
People of Kerala have two
main rail routes linking it to the other parts of India-ie the Konkan
line and the Palakkad-Coimbatore line.The Palakkad-Coimbatore line is already
saturated and Konkan line which is a single line is prone to natural
calamities.The frequent land slides at Konkan Railway has thrown train services
out of gear,as there is no alternate route to divert trains.In other words a
new ‘OPENING’ is required for the growing demands of Kerala for new trains and
routes.
The 236 kms long Nilambur
Road-Sulthan Bathery-Nanjangud Town Rail line is the ideal solution for these
problems and will be a boon to the people of Wayanad,who are facing lot of
difficulties due to the over night road traffic ban.
The proposed new line between
Nilambur and Nanjangud Town is of national importance and will cater to the
needs of the people across geographies and income strata as well as
ethnic,religious and social diversities.It will better connect centres of
commerce and industry,places of pilgrimage, historical sites, and tourist
attractions,as also ports to hinterland.Hence the proposed line linking the remotest South Indian districts
of Wayanad,Nilgiris and Malappuram to the National BG rail network deserves top
priority as accorded to Konkan line.
The salient
advantages of this ‘VITAL MISSING LINK’ ie Nilambur-Sulthan Bathery-Nanjangud rail
line are mentioned below:
i)Will serve as an effective alternative rail route to Konkan Railway which is exposed
to traffic blocks during monsoon land slides and in emergencies.(See the map
enclosed)
View Nanjangud -Sulthan Bathey Railway in a larger map
ii)Significant distance reduction between
Kanyakumari, Kerala and the cities of Mysore,Hubli,Bangalore,Hyderabad and New
Delhi.(Saves about 350 kms to Mysore,Hubli,Hyderabad,Delhi and 70 kms to
Bangalore)
iii)Provides easy connectivity between Inland
Container Terminal,Bangalore and the Container ports of Vallarpadam, Kochi and
proposed Vizhinjam port,near Trivandrum.
iv)Immense tourist and pilgrimage potential
as it links Mysore, Wayanad, Nilgiris,Guruvayur and Sabarimala.
v)Will
bring the backward districts of Wayanad, Malappuram, Chamarajanagar and
Nilgiris into the national BG Rail network boosting their economic development.
vi)Wayanad will be linked to Mysore Airport
and the IT cities of Mysore and Bangalore by rail.
vii)Will boost national integration by
linking the hinterland of Kerala,Tamilnadu and Karnataka states.
It will accelerate
economic growth,open up new avenues for employment in the primary,secondary and
tertiary sectors and also promote geographically and socially balanced growth.
The proposed line via Chungathara,
Vazhikkadavu,Venthekkumpotty,Birlavanam,Glenrock,Devala (Gudalur
Road),Pandalur,Cheeral and Sulthan Bathery benefits the districts of Malappuram,Wayanad
and Nilgiris.
The proposed route runs
parallel to NH 212 between Bathery and Nanjangud as it traverses forest
areas,thus avoiding vast destruction of forest land.
Overbridges or elevated
corridors can be built at elephant crossings to avoid harm to wild animals,as
done across wild life sanctuaries in North India.By carrying more people and goods than other modes of transport,Railways can
help protect the environment while promoting balanced development.A
train can replace about 60 lorries/buses in the route and thus can
significantly bring down pollution.
The latest estimate
of this 238 kms long line is about Rs
3385 crores.The Railway Board and
Central Planning Commission has accorded ‘sanction in principle’ for this line (vide
F.No 7/29/2010-Tpt,Planning
Commission,Govt of India,dated 06.04.2010.) and is awaiting approval from the CCEA.
Why 1st stage is more viable ?
As per the 2009
survey the distance between Nilambur road-Sulthan Bathery stretch is 164 k.m.
and cost would be Rs. 2,579 crores, where as the distance by road between these
two stations are 82 k.m. Reasons for the
escalation of distance and costs in this stretch is that the height from sea
level at Nilambur is 43 meters and at Sulthan Bathery 878 meters respectively and the terrain
between these points are too difficult which require 7 viaducts, 14 major
bridges and 21 tunnels. The report says
this line would not be economically viable.
But the distance
between Sulthan Bathery - Nanjangud stretch is only 72 k.m. and the cost would
be Rs.805 crores. This line passes only
10 k.m. through the wild life sanctuary.
The survey propose 30 over
bridges in this stretch to address
environmental problem and a sum of Rs.393 crores has been set apart for the
over bridges out of Rs 805 crores.
Enviornment and law
There are several rulings
of High courts and Supreme Court that forest and environmental laws are not
applicable to draw railway lines through wild life sanctuary and National
parks. Recently Hon’ble supreme court
has declined to interfere with the railway line in Rajaji National Park in Uttaraghand
and opined that it is desirable to draw railway lines through over bridges or
underground passages in National parks (Godavarmman Thirumulpad Vs Union of
India 2009 (16) SCC 775) Also see Goa Foundation VS Konkan Railway Corporation
(AIR 1992 BOM 471)
At present 4 major roads including 2 N.H.s are reaching to Wayanad and Gudallur from Mysore through forests among which night traffic ban exist in three. If the 72 k.m. Nanjangud Sulthan Bathery railway is introduced a major portion of traffic from these roads would shift to the railway, which would immaterialize the night traffic ban. So this railway passing through over bridge in the forest would reduce impacts from roads to the forests and also cause reduction of pollution and save environment. Besides railway is the most environmental friendly conveyance in the world.
Land
acquisition:
This railway is passing only 12 k.m. through Kerala, out of which major portion through revenue lands. Since this railway passes through the plateau lands in Karnataka no person need to be evicted for this railway.
Developmental prospects, Defense significance and
National Integration
Through this railway Mysore is reachable
from Sulthan Bathery in 2 hour and Banglore in 4 hours. From all-most all parts of Kannur, Kozhikode
and Malappuram, Sulthan Bathery is reachable by road in 3 hours. Since
Tamilnadu border is just 10 k.m. away from Sulthan Bathery this railway is also
going to benefit the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. So this railway would connect 3 states, 3
languages and different cultures and thus contribute to National
integration. This railway would cause to
the comprehensive development of Wayanad as well as adjoining Chamaraj Nagar,
Mysore, Coorg, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and the Nilgiris districts. This railway has a defense significance also
since it will provide an access to the army cantonment at Ootty which is 92
k.m. away from Sulthan Bathery. 
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