Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: Tracks restoration and repair work is in full swing on Subramanya - Sakleshpur section of the railway line. As mud clearance has been completed up to 70 percent, there is a hope that the train services to Bengaluru will resume by the end of this month.

The railway line is ready except for the Shiribagilu section where repeated landslides are creating a problem. Hillock has been caving in at Kodavarahalli in Shiribagilu, which makes the workers to work harder and longer. Due to heavy rain in Sakleshpur, landslides had occurred at 65 spots on this section.

A huge hillock had got deposited on the railway tunnel near Shiribagilu, totally burying 170 metre-long railway tunnel. The tunnel was buried under 25 metre-thick mud. 13 backhoes have been involved in the repair and restoration work continuously during the day and night to clear the track of mud. This particular spot where mud gets repeatedly deposited at Kodavarahalli is narrow and as such vehicular movement has also been posing problems as the other side of the track has a deep gorge.

Once the mud is removed, replacement of damaged sleepers and tightening of clips and other issues will be verified before the technical officials of the department check the stretch and give green signal for the movement of train.

Senior divisional engineer of Mysuru railway division, Raveendra Dheeredhar, said that work is now carried out only at Kodavarahalli near Shiribagilu and the works may be completed in ten days, after which a decision about allowing traffic on the line would be taken.