Mysore–Bangalore railway line

Background

The line extends from Mysore Junction to Bangalore City falling mostly under Bangalore railway division and a few stretches under Mysore railway division within the limits of South Western Railway zone at Bangalore City railway station.

Construction

Since the rail network in British India was entirely private affairs. The erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore established Mysore State Railway for improving rail connectivity, right after the commissioning of Madras Royapuram–Bangalore City railway line in 1879. Though managing Mysore State Railway was an expensive affair, Chamarajendra Wadiyar X decided to lay a new rail from Bangalore to Mysore in 1870, and shelved the project soon. Again he dusted the project and initiated the construction in 1877–1878. The 56 kilometres (35 mi) stretch between Bangalore–Channapatna was completed in 1 February 1881, the 37 kilometres (23 mi) Channapatna–Mandya stretch in 20 March 1881 and the final 45 kilometres (28 mi) Mandya–Mysore stretch was completed and the entire stretch thrown open to traffic on 25 February 1882.

Development

Sanctioned in 2009–2010, the railways took up the state's demand for doubling as well electrification at an estimated cost of ₹505 crore (US$75 million) which was later revised to ₹526.31 crore (US$78 million) and finally escalated to ₹874.75 crore (US$130 million). As only the 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) Bangalore City–Kengeri stretch been completed, the work for the rest of line is in progress. Land acquisition of about 160 acres (65 ha), especially 25 acres (10 ha) near Mandya alone have been done as part of double line and improving stations between Ramanagaram and Mysore Junction.