Delay in transmission lines stalls railway electrification progress on Bengaluru-Mysuru-Mangaluru route

Delay in completing critical transmission lines is hampering Indian Railways’ electrification drive on the vital Bengaluru-Mysuru-Mangaluru route, raising concerns about the full utilisation of the newly built railway assets.

Despite Railways successfully finishing its Honnavalli Traction Sub-station (TSS) in November 2023, it along with the other three sub-stations at Aalur, Shravanabelagola, and Sakleshpur cannot yet be energised. According to sources, connections from the State electricity board’s transmission network remain incomplete, while capacity upgrades at Tolahunse, Ramagiri, and Dodbele sub-stations also await attention from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL)

Officials said that a key part of this puzzle is the pending 110 kV, a 5-km transmission link from KPTCL’s Belagumba grid sub-station through Tiptur and Arsikere taluks. Of the 25 tower foundations required for this stretch, only 12 have been built so far, over a year after KPTCL awarded the work in January 2023.

Officials say severe right-of-way (ROW) hurdles and ongoing disputes with local farmers demanding higher compensation have stalled progress.

Explaining the situation, a senior SWR official said: “We are fully ready with our traction sub-station at Honnavalli, but we cannot proceed with energising it until KPTCL completes its section. The delay is mostly owing to ROW and land compensation issues, which require urgent intervention.”

Railways is pushing to achieve 100% electrification under the South Western Railway (SWR) zone, part of the Viksit Bharat vision.

“Without the last-mile transmission links in place, the electrification of the Bengaluru-Hubballi section cannot deliver its expected environmental and operational benefits,” the official added.

According to officials, SWR could save up to ₹4.36 crore every month by switching eight pairs of trains on this section from diesel to electric traction.

The official said: “These trains currently consume approximately 7.64 lakh litres of diesel per month. Electrification will eliminate this usage and significantly cut fuel expenses.”

The Hindu reached out to KPTCL, but there was no response.