B’luru train service to resume by month end

• 70% of Sakleshpur – Subramanya rail tracks restored

Subbhramanya:  The railway tracks restoration and repair work on Subramanya – Sakleshpur section of the railway line is witnessing good progress. Upto 70% of the deposited mud and debris has been cleared. There is a hope that the train services to Bengaluru will resume by the end of this month.

Except for the Shiribagilu section where repeated landslides are creating a problem, the rest of the railway line is ready. The caving in of a hillock at Kodavarahalli in Shiribagilu, is making the work more tedious for the workers who are now working harder and longer. The heavy rains in Sakleshpur had caused landslides at 65 different locations along the route.

Shiribagilu

Due to the inccessant rains, a huge hillock had got deposited on the railway tunnel near Shiribagilu, completly burying 170 metre-long railway tunnel. The tunnel was buried under 25 metre-thick mud. 13 backhoes functioned round the clocks to clear the mud for the repair and restoration work.

This particular location was plagued with repeated deposition of mud at Kodavarahalli is narrow. This made vehicular passage difficult, for on the other side of the track was a deep gorge.

Green signal

Post the removal of the mud, the damaged sleepers are replaced, clips are tightened and other issues are verified. It is followed by a visit bb the technical officials of the department, who will check the stretch and if convinced of the safety, will give green signal for train passage.

Work is now carried out only at Kodavarahalli near Shiribagilu and the works may be completed in ten days, after which a decision about allowing traffic on the line would be taken, said Raveendra Dheeredhar, Senior divisional engineer of Mysuru railway division.