Capacity augmentation project of Mysuru station on track

In view of the rising passenger demand and to meet the projected growth of rail traffic, the Indian Railways has decided to augment the coaching terminals across 48 stations in the country, including in Mysuru.

This is part of the long-term mission to enhance the capacity to handle originating passenger traffic at major cities and to double it by 2030.

According to the railway authorities, this will include augmentation of the existing terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, shunting facilities, and pit lines, apart from developing new terminals around urban areas.

Girish Dharmaraj Kalakunda, senior divisional commercial manager, Mysuru Railway Division, said augmentation work at the city station is already under way. 

The cost of expanding the Mysuru Railway Station was initially pegged at ₹360 crore but has now increased to nearly ₹493.03 crore, he added.

The project entailed the demolition of the old railway quarters at Yadavgiri to create space for additional platforms.

Mr. Kalakunda said that a portion of the quarters has been demolished and type-two quarters are currently being constructed on the railway land. Once the families are shifted to the new quarters, the old quarters will be fully demolished and the reclaimed land will be utilised for laying platforms, pit lines, and so on.

At present, there are six platforms at the Mysuru Railway Station and they are operating at near-saturation levels. Under the planned infrastructure augmentation works, the station will be upgraded with five additional platforms.

In the first phase of the ongoing project, works worth ₹214.70 crore have been taken up, including the dismantling of service buildings, staff quarters, and minor bridges. The second phase of the project entails laying of tracks, signals, telecommunication systems, and so on. The tentative completion date of the augmentation project is 2028, said Mr. Kalakunda.

This expansion will augment the network capacity to handle more trains, enable smoother reception and dispatch of long-distance and suburban services, and enhance operational flexibility to cater to future traffic growth and passenger demand.

In addition, passengers will be provided with modern facilities, improved accessibility and a smoother travel experience. Officials aver the enhancement of rail infrastructure in Mysuru is aligned with the city’s projected growth and the need for better connectivity and mobility.

It has also been proposed to create maintenance infrastructure and enhance sectional capacity through upgrading of the signalling system and multi-tracking, said Mr. Kalakunda.

At present, Mysuru handles 56 pair of trains, including daily and weekly services. Capacity augmentation will eliminate the infrastructure constraints and enable the introduction of more trains to handle additional passenger traffic. The daily footfall at the Mysuru Railway Station is pegged at around 55,000, which doubles to nearly a lakh during holidays and Dasara.