Bangalore: 2200-km Rail Line Projects to be Completed in Four Years
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 22: A record length of 2200 km of ongoing railway projects, including new lines, gauge conversion and doubling, are proposed to be completed in Karnataka in the next four years.
Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa, who reviewed the progress of various railway projects in the State in the presence of Railway Board officials and State Government officials, said out of 31 projects, the cost of 15 projects is being shared by the State government.
The total estimated cost of 31 projects is Rs. 17,590 crore.
The review of railway projects assumed significance in the wake of the up coming Union Railway budget for 2012-13.
Out of 3000 km rail lines in the State, work on 800 km has been completed. ''Currently, 125 km line is executed annually and it has been decided scale up to 500 km per year to ensure the remaining 2200 km of projects completed in about four years,” he said.
A committee headed by the State Government’s Chief Secretary has been constituted to expedite land acquisition process for railway projects.
About 2300 acres has been handed over to the railways in the last few months, Muniyappa told reporters after the meeting.
As many as 11 new line projects (1600 km) involving cost of Rs 11,750 crore have been sanctioned.
Out of these 11 projects, cost of nine projects would be shared by the State Government and two projects – Hubli - Ankola and Bangalore-Satyamangalam -- are held up on account of environmental issues.
During the last six years, 88 km of new lines has been completed and an amount of Rs 10,400 crore is required to complete the balance new lines, he said.
Asked about a circular train system to Bangalore, the Minister said: ''We are ready. Let the State Government submit its proposal on the project. The officials will study the feasibility of the project based on the proposal and a survey.”
On movement of trains between Bangalore and Nelamangala, he said due to some technical snag the movement of trains has been delayed.
''I would flag off the train to Nelamangala by March,” Muniyappa said.
A large number of employees and workers travel daily between Bangalore and Nelamangala.
Eight surveys pending for clearances from Union Ministry of Environment and Forests are: Hassan-Mangalore doubling (189 km), Belur-Sringeri new line (70 km), Krishnagiri-Chamarajangar (170 km), Padubidri-Karkala-Belthangady-Ujire-Dharmasthala-Nettane new line (170 km), Mysore-Kushalangar-Madikeri new line (110 km, Bendoor-Kollur-Halady-Hebri-Karkala-Moodabidri-Venoor-Elathangady-Dharmasthala-Nettane new line (60 km), Mysore-Mangalore-via Madikeri new line (272 km) and Panathur-Kanniyuru new line (31 km).
An agency has been fixed for a survey from Mysore to Kushalnagar and the survey has been just commenced, he said.