Centre drops road-cum-rail tunnel project as it is not feasible, says Capt. Chowta
The Union government has canceled the proposed road-cum-rail tunnel project through Shiradi Ghat due to technical infeasibility regarding gradient requirements. Instead, the government will pursue separate road and rail projects to improve infrastructure in the Dakshina Kannada region.
Why it matters
Infrastructure development is vital for regional connectivity, and the decision reflects the complexities of balancing engineering constraints with transport needs.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MP for Dakshina Kannada, on Friday said the Union government had dropped the road-cum-rail tunnel project through Shiradi Ghat because the road alignment would have to be too long to match the railway line gradient.
The MP said that if the tunnel had to accommodate both the road and the railway, its length would be nearly 88 km to allow a gentler gradient for the railway line, instead of the about 30 km standalone alignment for the road tunnel. Hence, both projects would be executed separately. The Railways had already invited tenders for the final location survey of the new Hassan-Mangaluru line.
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, MP for Dakshina Kannada, speaks during the inauguration ceremony of Bantwal Railway Station, redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme on Friday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
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