Daijiworld News Network - Bangalore (GA)

Bangalore, Nov 25:  The State Government has urged the union railway ministry to open the much-awaited Hassan-Mangalore railway line.

In a letter written to the union railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has requested that the railway line should be re-opened soon since the works of the 183-km new broad gauge line from Hassan-Mangalore was completed but waiting for safety clearance from the Railway Safety Commissioner.

Though goods trains are running successfully on this line, officials are still studying the safety aspects before the movement of passenger trains.

As the track passes through ghat sections and thick forest, the officials are not ready to take chances as there is possibility of landslide, said a senior officer in the South Western Railway.

Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Corporation (HMRDC), a special purpose vehicle formed to implemented the project, has earned Rs 5 crore from running of goods train in this track this year.

Sources also said that railway officials have agreed to run goods train from Molakalmur to Mangalore port to transport iron ore. Even many iron ore transporters have also agreed to set up ore dumping yard at Molakalmur. As expected if iron ore is transported through railway, this would also reduce pressure on roads leading to ports, which were damaged a lot.