Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, May 9: Union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda along with MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and railway and other officials on Saturday May 9 inspected the ongoing work on Padil-Bajal railway underbridge.
It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the underbridge had been laid by Sadananda Gowda last year during his tenure as the union minister for railways. Though it was supposed to be completed by the beginning of this year, the project delayed due to various problems.
After holding discussions with the officials, Sadananda Gowda addressed the media and said, "This world should have been completed by March 31, but due to minor problems it has been delayed and the progress has been as expected. Both the railway department and the MCC are responsible for this.
"The work should be completed before monsoon, otherwise there will be more problems. The officials have assured me that they will finish the work by June 30," he said.
"There are problems like waterlogging which will be temporarily solved. During monsoons, the excess water will be pumped out by the railway department, and after the rainy season is over, a permanent solution will be found," he said.
"There can be no compromise on this. If there is any problem in future, the MP and the officials will sort it out," DVS added.
On problems relating to approach roads and drains at the underbridge, the minister said they will be resolved after holding discussions with the officials. "Everything has to be completed by June 30. The government is always ready to help and so also the MCC. Any minor issues that emerge will be sorted out after the monsoons," he said.
Regarding proposal to upgrade Mangaluru Central railway station into a world class one, he said Mangaluru is one of the five cities where the railway station would be upgraded to international standards, and the design is in progress. "We will speed up the progress," he added.
On Shiradi Ghat work, he said 10 km is ready and the remaining stretch will be completed soon. He also said that Rs 7 crore has been released for BC Road-Mani stretch and the work is in progress.
Mangaluru-Bengaluru stretch be developed quickly and the same has been discussed with transport minister Nitin Gadkari, he said.
He said that during his tenure, 16 trains were sanctioned for Karnataka, and five more will be started soon. "Byndoor-Kasargod train is already running, and I have already spoken with the minister concerned about Mangaluru-Bengaluru train and it will be done soon. Mangaluru - Shravanabelagola train will be started by next March," he said.
Sadananda Gowda further said that the union government is mulling special legal reforms for the benefit of undertrials who are languishing in jails for a longer period than the punishment stipulated in their cases.
Regarding Mekedatu project, he said that Tamil Nadu has been unnecessarily been creating problems. "When Tamil Nadu faced water scarcity, Karnataka released 194 TMC of water as the order of Supreme Court and the Cauvery Tribunal. Mekedatu project will help Tamil Nadu too and it shoud not be creating problems," he said.
Former MLA Yogish Bhat, MCC commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati and other officials were present.