Title - Pending railway projects get additional funds

Union railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge, on his first visit to the state after assuming charge, announced that an additional Rs 600 crore will be sanctioned to complete the pending railway projects in the state.

Kharge said some of the pending projects will be completed on priority basis and some on a war footing. After attending a review meeting with the three divisional general managers and state representatives, Kharge said: “We will give Rs 300 crore while the state government has agreed to sanction another Rs 300 crore apart from providing the necessary land. This is in addition to the budgetary allocation of Rs 900 crore to take up railway projects in the state.”

He has also announced that the railways has no plans to hike the fares, despite the hike in diesel prices. “The railways has the capacity to bear the hike in diesel prices,’’ he said.

When asked about the completion of the Bangalore-Mysore railway track doubling work, the minister said efforts were being made to facilitate shifting of Tipu’s armoury at Srirangapatna. “The railways had obtained the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) clearance to shift Tipu Sultan’s armoury. Tenders have been floated inviting bidders. The track doubling work will be commenced as soon as shifting of Tipu’s armoury work is completed,’’ he said.

The minister also stated that the state government would hold talks with owners of Kunigal stud farm and farmers to complete land acquisition for  Bangalore-Hassan railway project. “The railways wants to complete Bangalore-Hassan rail project as early as possible, but it will depend on the state government’s ability in completing all formalities to acquire the necessary land,’’ he said.

He also said that the railways has decided to complete the following projects on priority basis: Kadur-Chikmagalur railway line by November 13, Kolar-Chikkaballapur railway line by December 13, Gadwal-Raichur railway line by August 2014, Kotige-Gulbarga railway line by December 2014 or 2015,  Dharwad-Chinchgad railway track doubling and Humnabad-Gulbarga railway line.