PWD NH Mysuru Sub-division has proposed a four lane railway underpass/underpass at railway level crossing-1 at Kukkarahalli Lake junction between University of Mysore Crawford Hall and Kukkarahalli Lake in Mysuru. It will be taken up in a length of 588 meters, connecting three roads – Padma Road, Kukkarahalli Lake Road and Crawford Hall Road.
The project will be taken up under the Setu Bandhan Central Road and Infrastructure Fund Scheme of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MRTH) at a cost of Rs 38.29 crore, to improve connectivity and also road and rail safety.
Officials of PWD NH Mysuru subdivision have sought permission to cut around 35 trees including Indian Beech trees and Peepal tree on Kukkarahalli Lake Road and they have already been marked. DCF, Mysuru territorial division, K Paramesha informed that the Forest department has not yet sanctioned the permit.
Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar inspected the site on Tuesday.
PAK had proposed a 5.5 meter wide underpass. In a letter written to PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on March 14, Wadiyar has sought approval to extend the road width to 7.5 meters at par with approach roads, to avoid traffic bottlenecks and for smooth traffic movement. He is committed not to cut the trees, to preserve the green cover of the city. Therefore, he has proposed their relocation and ensured strict measures to do compensatory planting of trees elsewhere, to balance development with environmental concerns.
According to officials, the rail over bridge project was first proposed in 2001 by South Western Railway at this junction. Later, SWR and Mysuru City Corporation proposed to share the cost and revised the proposal from over-bridge to under-bridge in 2021.
In view of the heritage area between Crawford Hall, Kautilya Circle and Padma Circle, the height of the bridge was fixed at 4.20 metres. However, this would allow the movement of only small vehicles. Later the project was handed over by MCC to the National Highways department. In order to facilitate the circulation, the deputy at that time submitted the proposal to the minister of MRSA. MRTH approved a four-lane RUB at a cost of Rs 45 crore, in 2022-23. Administrative and technical approval was obtained for Rs 42.49 crore. The tender process has been completed and the work order has been awarded to Bengaluru-based PJB Engineers on March 20, 2025, to execute the project at a cost of Rs 38.29 crore. PAK officials have submitted a revised proposal of GAD (General Arrangement Drawing), TAD (Temporary Arrangement Drawing) for Railways and structural drawings to IIT for wetting. The approval is in the final stage.
Mysuru DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy held a meeting with officials of various departments recently, on switching services like electricity, water supply and UGD; relocation of tonga stand and Trin Trin cycle stand, Kukkarahalli lake main entrance and sports department pavilion gate; and closing the road to the university quarters.
Parashuramegowda of Parisara Balaga said environmentalists will visit the site, along with experts, and take further steps to protect around 35 trees proposed for felling.
