Do Armymen and Floriculturists of Coorg need the railway line ?

By K K Aiyamma

The Railway Line is back in the news. And some in Coorg have their fingers crossed, hoping that the railway minister and the “son-in-law” of Coorg, D.V.Sadananda Gowda will announce the commissioning of the grand railway line from Mysore to Kushalnagar, the line to “prosperity” and “development” of Coorg.

Nah, I am not saying that or believe so. But, if we take it from Srikanth Kallammanavar, who wrote a piece in Deccan Herald, there are many who want to see the dawn of a railway line criss-crossing Coorg.

“There are several persons from Kodagu serving in the military. If railway connectivity is provided, it would help them in reaching their home town by train.”, he writes.  As if the army men from Coorg are waiting with bated breath to board the train to Coorg.

He further adds that: ” The coffee growers and floriculturists have been demanding railway service to transport their goods to the nearest port. It is a tragedy that the long-pending demand has not been materialized so far. “

If that is so, lets hear it from the horses mouth. A statement from the CPA(Codagu Planters Association) should clear the air.

Regarding the “Floriculturists”, I am still to come across a landscape full of “carnation and roses” in Coorg.

I  have searched high and low for the survey report of 2012, which was being referenced and touted all across the newspapers. I have still not found it.  The image in the post is from the  South Western Railway’s status report and it clearly shows that – at that point of time(2012) or some other, the survey was not allowed as the forest department did not give permission.

 So will it be any different now ? Environmental compromise this time ?

Kodagu Chamber of Commerce President G Chidwilas is confident. He was quoted in report, stating – “We are confident of Sadananda Gowda, who is also son-in-law of the district. He will give preference to Kushalnagar-Mysore railway line in the budget.”

To hell with the bad roads in Coorg and the connecting ones to Coorg. Forget a decent plate of rice and curry. Lets hope that railway comes in and we end up with Champagne and Caviar.