Eco concerns raised as railways revives line to Madikeri

Nearly two decades after a plan to build a railway line to Madikeri was put to rest, the Railway Board has sanctioned a survey for a line from Shravanabelagola to Madikeri, raising concerns over ecological destruction in the fragile Western Ghats district.

A letter from the director of the Board, received by the South Western Railway (SWR) recently, says the railway ministry has approved four lines, including Shravanabelagola-Madikeri and Gangavati-Daroji lines under SWR’s jurisdiction.

The ministry has approved Rs 58.5 lakh as the cost for survey of the 117-km railway Shravanabelagola-Madikeri line, which will pass through Holenarsipur, Arkalgud, Konanur and Kushalnagar.