Golden I.T. Corridor

A schematic map of the Indian Railways network, showing the various zones.

The Golden I.T. Corridor[1] (Nilambur–Gudalur Road–Sulthan Bathery–Nanjangud rail line) is a railway project to create a broad gauge rail connection from the town of Nanjangud (Karnataka) to Nilambur (Kerala) through Wayanad district of Kerala and Nilagiri district of Tamil Nadu. The first proposal for such a line dates back to 1881[2] Among the possible problems with this scheme is that it would go through forested lands, and that it is not certain that the line would be profitable. This railway having a length of 236 km starting from Nanjangud near Mysore and passing through Madhur in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala, and Devala in Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu and reaching at Nilambur in Kerala is technically feasible.[3][4] This BG line would join the existing railhead at Nilambur and lead to Trivandrum. The estimated cost of this railway is Rs.4266 crores. During 2010 the Planning Commission has sanctioned the estimated project cost of this proposed railway. This saves about 70 km from Kerala to Bangalore and saves 360 km to Mysore.[5]

Project estimated cost

The total estimate for this project is Rs.4266 cr. Nanjangud-Sulthan Bathery 72 km cost is Rs 641.78cr and Sulthan bathery -Nilambur 164 km would Rs 3624.22 cr.

Government approval

In jan 2 2014 the government of Kerala decided to share the cost of this railway project.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in a letter to Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, has expressed the state's willingness to share the project's cost. He has also asked the railway minister to ensure that the first phase, (Nanjangud -Sulthan Bathery ) estimated to cost Rs.641.78 crore, begins at the earliest.[6]

Eco-friendly railway

The new railway would reduce the vehicular traffic in NH-67 and NH-212 since a major chunk of commuters and carriers would shift to railway. This would reduce environmental pollution and hazards in wild life sanctuary and would save valuable fuel also.[7][8]

Financial viability

It is estimated that more than 50,000 people are daily commuting to Mysore and Bangalore from Malabar and Nilagiri region. Around 240 buses are plying to Mysore and Bangalore through NH-212 and NH-67 from this region. By the inception of new railway line journey from Sulthan Bathery to Mysore would take just 1 hour and Banglore 3 hours. The journey from Devala (Gudalur Road) would take 30 minutes more. Ooty could be reached from Gudalur Road in one and a half hour drive so that this rail would be the favourite destination of tourists.More than 800 trucks are passing through NH212 in one direction through Wayanad daily. About 700 trucks are reaching Gudalur through NH67. Destination of this freight is the neighbouring 8 districts. Considering the logistic movement currently in NH 212 and NH67 which is expected to be shifted to the railway and expected increase by the introduction of railway, the freight revenue would be multi fold of the travel revenue.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/25/stories/2011022552980900.htm
  2. ↑ http://discuss.itacumens.com/index.php?topic=13988.45.
  3. ↑ Kerala Assembly Document ,Submission answered by Mr.M.Vijayakumar Minister for sports and Railway affairs dated 22-07-2008
  4. ↑ http://twocircles.net/2009aug29/questions_asked_mr_k_e_ismail_during_Rajya_sabha_session_july_aug_2009.html
  5. ↑ http://wayanadrailway.com
  6. ↑ http://www.mysoochi.com/news/2014/01/02/kerala-ready-to-share-proposed-railway-lines-cost/
  7. ↑ The Hindu daily,dated nov.03-2008. kozhikode edition
  8. ↑ The Hindu Daily.(Palakkad) Date:05/06/2009