A Railway Dream Derailed: Why the Mysuru-Kushalnagar Line Ran Out of Track

It’s a decision that, while perhaps not entirely surprising, still stings for many in the region: the South Western Railway has officially pulled the plug on the ambitious 87-kilometer broad-gauge railway line that was meant to connect Mysuru with Kushalnagar. After more than a decade since its initial announcement, the project, once a beacon of hope for connectivity, has been deemed financially unviable and environmentally unsustainable.

Let's be honest, the dream of a railway network reaching Kodagu district, a region currently devoid of any rail connectivity, has been a persistent one. Tourists, pilgrims heading to Bylakuppe, and even local farmers could have greatly benefited from easier access. The project, initially unveiled in the 2010-11 railway budget and further detailed through a survey in 2011-12, truly gained momentum when its Detailed Project Report (DPR) received the Railway Board’s nod in 2014. Hopes were high, and land acquisition talks had even begun for significant swathes in both Mysuru and Kodagu districts – around 138 hectares and 100 hectares respectively, impacting dozens of villages.

But here's where the rubber met the road, or rather, where the tracks hit a wall. The cost, oh, the cost! What was estimated at a substantial Rs 662 crore back in 2016 has now ballooned to an eye-watering Rs 1,854 crore. This massive escalation naturally led to a rather dismal Return on Investment (ROI) calculation, coming in at a negative 2.57 percent. From a purely financial standpoint, it’s a tough sell for any organization, let alone one operating on public funds.

Beyond the numbers, though, lay an even more formidable obstacle: the environment. The proposed route wasn't just traversing open fields; it was set to cut through a significant chunk of pristine natural habitat. We're talking about diverting nearly 67 hectares of forest land, including a sensitive portion of the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. Imagine the ecological impact, the disruption to local ecosystems, and the irreversible damage to what is a vital green lung for the region. The line would have also snaked its way through reserve forests, precious coffee plantations that are the lifeblood of many families, and fertile paddy fields. The outcry from environmentalists and local communities, understandably, grew louder as these details emerged.

So, after a thorough re-evaluation, the Railway Board had to make a tough call. Given the project's colossal financial burden and the almost insurmountable environmental hurdles, particularly concerning the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, the decision was made to officially scrap it. It's a pragmatic move, perhaps, but one that undoubtedly leaves a void for those who had envisioned a connected Kodagu.

Interestingly, there was an alternative proposal floated by the Kodagu district administration – a much shorter, roughly 30-35 km line from Bylakuppe to Mysuru. This route aimed to connect the significant Tibetan settlement while cleverly bypassing the most ecologically sensitive zones. While a valiant effort to find a middle ground, it seems even this wasn't enough to revive the broader project.

Ultimately, the scrapping of the Mysuru-Kushalnagar line underscores a crucial lesson: ambitious infrastructure projects, especially those in ecologically sensitive areas, must balance economic viability with environmental responsibility from the outset. For now, the people of Kodagu will have to continue relying on road transport, and the dream of a railway line remains just that – a dream, at least for this particular alignment.