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MANGALORE: The Mangalore Railway Development Action Committee while welcoming a move to execute multi-state tunnel through the Western Ghats for road connectivity, has urged the Union railway ministry to join this project as well. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is going to execute the multi-stage tunnel measuring 18.5 kilometres through Shiradi Ghat on the NH between Bangalore and Mangalore at a cost of Rs. 4,800 crore.

This project will be funded both by the Central and state governments. The Committee headed by its convener P V Mohan that met Mallikarjun Kharge, union minister for railways here on Sunday said it is prudent that Indian Railways also join this unusual project, a product of the wisdom of both the government, into an innovative one by including railway line also into the tunnel construction. This will ameliorate traveling suffering of thousands of people.

Appeal to the Kharge to do the needful for including railway line also into the Western Ghats multi-stage tunnel project, Mohan said such an initiative will not only be a highly innovative project which will become a model for other states but also help in developing infrastructural facilities for the districts in the southern states. The committee drew his attention to similar projects executed elsewhere in the world successfully too and are therefore viable.

There have been such projects executed in Australia, Denmark, Germany and Russia. Undoubtedly, the Japan International Cooperation Agency will have the necessary know-how and technology for executing the project, Mohan said, adding it is important that the already existing railway line between Bangalore and Mangalore which started after lot of persuasion by the locals is minimum facility catering to only 10% of the needs of the traveling public.

Even if it is considered that a double line facility may be constructed alongside the existing one, experts are of the opinion that it may not be feasible because of the Western Ghats terrain. Therefore, joining the tunnel facility created by the union ministry of road transport and highways will be of immense use and a feasible solution to several problems including transport of goods. Such a project also will have a long longevity for obvious reasons, he noted.