ABSTRACT
The current study on the feasibility analysis of a railway route between Shivamogga and Harihar towns of Karnataka state in India is aimed at highlighting the usefulness of integrating remote sensing/geoinformatics and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in feasibility studies. The present study uses multiple relevant thematic map layers (land use/land cover, lithology, soil, hydrogeomorphology, contour, drainage and transportation networks). Suitable weights (ranking) were assigned to different classes in each thematic layer by following an AHP multi-criteria decision approach (MCDA). They were then overlaid to get the proposed feasibility map of the railway route. Suitability ranking is assigned to this proposed feasibility map as most suitable, moderately suitable and least suitable. The AHP consistency index is < 0.1, which is acceptable. The gross outcome of the study is that the proposed route is moderately to most suitable for laying the railway track. The overall result reveals that the study area is 87 per cent feasible and could be executed. The route was properly aligned following all necessary criteria prescribed by the Railway Engineering Code of the Government of India for railway track construction purposes. The result of the study is positive.
