Title - 'Vaishno Devi-Bangalore train soon'

Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has said that he would make efforts to start a Bangalore-Vaishno Devi Express and a Bangalore-Ajmer Express trains via Gulbarga. “This has been my dream and I will go all-out to realise the dream before the announcement of Parliament elections,” he added.After flagging off the Solapur-Yeshwanthpur daily express, which was a tri-weekly service till now, here on Tuesday, Mallikarjuna Kharge said work on Udhampur to Katra railway line would be completed within a month and this would facilitate starting of new trains via Udhampur.In the next month, a new train between Hubli and Secunderabad via Gadag, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Hotagi, Solapur, Gulbarga, Wadi, Sedam and Tandur would be flagged off, he added.Former chief minister Dharam Singh, who is also the Bidar MP, requested Kharge to speed up the work of Bidar-Gulbarga railway line and to start a Humnabad- Bidar passenger train at the earliest. He also asked him to introduce a train to Bangalore from Gulbarga.

Upward revision of fares

Kharge also hinted at a possible upward revision of passenger fares and freight charges shortly.

The hike in diesel price, reduction in the number of passengers and closure of some of the coal and iron ore mines were forcing Railways to think of increasing fares.

After a detailed study on the quantum of  increase to be effected, fares would be increased on the AC class in the Shatabdi Express and Duronto Trains.

Freight charges would also be increased to some extent, Kharge said.

The Railway Minister said that directions have been issued to take measures for appointing sufficient number of railway women constables and railway women sub-inspectors for the safety of women in the trains and the recruitment process has already commenced.

Adequate number of women railway police would be appointed in Solapur-Guntakal division, he added.

Mallikarjun Kharge said that the number of passengers was very low in April, May and June this year.

The number has increased now and if the railways gets sufficient funds, supplementary budget would be presented in Parliament for announcing new programmes based on the demand.

Minister Mallikharjuna Kharge expressed hope that the revenue generation from the railways would be higher this year compared to last year.

Aland MLA B R Patil also made a similar demand. Central Railway General Manager B P Khare spoke on the occaison.