Times News Network

Bangalore, Dec 30: The long delayed Bangalore-Mangalore railway line is finally ready and the first passenger train is expected to run by March.

SWR general manager T N Perti announced that the railway line connecting the city to the port city of Mangalore will be opened for passenger traffic after it is inspected by the railway safety commissioner.

He said the safety inspection will begin in January 2007. After a month’s inspection, track safety tests, especially on the ghat section, will be done. The work had been hampered because of nearly 42 landslides over 24 months.

After the inspection, the safety experts will suggest repairs and changes on signalling, tracks, bridges and all the recommendations will be incorporated before the first run, he said.

Stating that safety tests are mandatory, he said the newly laid lines between Kukke Subramanya and Sakleshpur will also be tested.

Explaining the hurdles in the Chamarajanagar-Sathyamangala line, he said it was due to some ecological issues and the delay by the Tamil Nadu government.