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Revision as of 04:41, 1 November 2025
Shivamogga Town railway station (station code: SMET) is a railway station under the Mysuru railway division of the South Western Railway zone (SWR) of Indian Railways, situated in Shivamogga, Karnataka, India. The station lies on the Birur–Talaguppa branch line, connecting the Malnad region with southern Karnataka. It serves as one of the main railheads for Shivamogga city and nearby towns, providing vital connectivity to Bengaluru and Mysuru.[1]
History
The Birur–Shivamogga section of the line was originally constructed as a metre-gauge branch under the erstwhile Mysore State Railway (MSR). The Birur–Shivamogga line opened to traffic in 1899.[2]
The extension from Shivamogga towards Talaguppa commenced in 1930 and was completed and inaugurated on 9 November 1940. This extension was built to enhance passenger connectivity to tourist destinations such as Jog Falls and to transport timber and forest products to the nearby Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (VISL) at Bhadravati. The entire line was converted to broad gauge in 2007. Electrification of the Birur–Talaguppa line was sanctioned in 2018–19, covering approximately 161 km at a cost of ₹151.99 crore.[3]
Facilities
The station is equipped with essential passenger amenities for both short- and long-distance travellers. Facilities include:
- Computerised ticket booking counters
- Digital information display boards
- Waiting halls and restrooms
- Drinking water and food stalls
- Parking for two-wheelers and cars
- Retiring rooms for passengers
- Prepaid auto-rickshaw and city bus connectivity just outside the station
Services
Several express and passenger trains originate or terminate at Shivamogga Town (SMET), connecting the city with Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, Talaguppa, and Tumakuru. The following are the regular train services as of 2025 (excluding special fare and seasonal trains):[5]
Proposed new lines
The following new railway projects directly connected to Shivamogga Town (SMET) have been sanctioned or are under survey by the South Western Railway zone:[6]
| Line | Length (km) | Year of sanction / survey | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivamogga–Harihar new line | 79 | 2011–12 | **Project officially dropped** due to non-allocation of free-of-cost land and cost-sharing issues by the Government of Karnataka. |
| Shivamogga–Ranebennur via Shikaripura new line | 96 | 2019–20 | The project is currently in the **construction phase** between Shivamogga and Shikaripura.
As of July 2025, progress has been significantly delayed, primarily due to land acquisition challenges between Shikaripura and Ranebennur, with only **11.5Â % physical work completed** so far. |
| Shivamogga–Sringeri–Mangaluru new line | 332 | 2018–19 | The Railway Board has **sanctioned the Final Location Survey (FLS)**.
Tender process for FLS works is **under progress**. Survey work and alignment map will be prepared after completion of tendering. |
| Shivamogga–Birur Doubling | 62.9 | 2016–17 | The Railway Board has sanctioned the **Final Location Survey (FLS)**.
Tender has been **awarded**, and **survey work with alignment fixing is currently in progress**. |
References
External links
