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The delay is mostly due to Right of Way (ROW) issues and ongoing compensation disputes with local farmers whose land is required for the project.
Railways ready, but stuck waiting on last-mile power connection. (Image: Representative)
Indian Railways’ goal to fully electrify the important Bengaluru-Mysuru-Mangaluru route has hit a roadblock, not because of internal delays, but due to unfinished transmission line connections from the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL).
Even though the Honnavalli Traction Sub-station (TSS) was completed in November 2023, it remains inactive—along with three other TSS at Aalur, Shravanabelagola, and Sakleshpur—as they still await electricity supply from KPTCL’s network.
Tower Work Stuck Due to Land Disputes
At the heart of the problem is a 5-km, 110 kV transmission link from KPTCL’s Belagumba grid sub-station. The line passes through Tiptur and Arsikere taluks. Out of the 25 required towers, only 12 have been erected, despite work being sanctioned in January 2023.
Why the delay? Officials blame right-of-way (ROW) issues and land compensation disputes. Farmers in the region are reportedly demanding higher compensation, stalling progress for over a year.
According to The Hindu, a senior South Western Railway (SWR) official said, “We are ready with the sub-station at Honnavalli. But we can’t power it up until KPTCL finishes their part. The problem lies with land access and pending compensation.”
Electrification Means Big Savings
The delay has serious financial and environmental consequences. The SWR is aiming for 100 percent electrification as part of the Viksit Bharat initiative, which aims for modern, green infrastructure.
Switching from diesel to electric trains on this line could save Indian Railways up to Rs 4.36 crore every month, as eight train pairs currently guzzle 7.64 lakh litres of diesel monthly.
“Electrification would cut this consumption entirely,” the official added. “But without the final power link, we’re stuck.”
What’s Next?
Unless KPTCL speeds up tower construction and resolves the compensation disputes with farmers, the electrification dream for this busy rail corridor—and the significant savings it promises—will remain on hold.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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