K.A. Manoharan, Commissioner of Railway Safety (Bengaluru), conducted the five-day inspection, which began on February 6.

The track’s suitability was also tested by running the train at 110 km/h.

The team, which included Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Ashok Gupta and Divisional Railway Manager Sanjiv Agarwal, inspected the track, bridges, stations, signal and basic amenities along the route.

Mr. Manoharan, speaking to presspersons at Shravanabelagola, said that the track condition was okay but there were minor issues with regard to other things.

“The issues that need to be improved have been brought to the notice of officials concerned,” he said.

The line connecting Hassan and Bengaluru via Shravanabelagola was proposed 20 years ago when H.D. Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister.

The line is expected to be operational by the end of this month. Mr. Gupta said that he was hopeful that the train would run by the end of February.

‘Remarkable construction’

Mangaluru Special Correspondent reports:

K.N. Krishnaprasad and T.P. Lokesh from Karnataka Railway Vedike, a rail advocacy group, who witnessed the inspection on Friday, said that the construction was remarkable despite two-decade delay. Platforms at all stations are designed to accommodate a full-train (24 coaches) even as there are no level crossings on the entire section.

An engineer with SWR construction wing however said only one level crossing exists near Soladevanahalli, off Nelamangala, which can be eliminated.

Otherwise, railway under or over bridges are constructed between Nelamangala and Hassan for crossing roads.

This helps operating trains at high speeds, Mr. Prasad said.

Parts of the Bengaluru-Hassan new line (166 km), Chikkabanavara-Nelamangala and Shravanabelagola-Hassan, are already commissioned. – News & Image Courtesy: The Hindu