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JAPANESE CO. TO IMPLEMENT MYSORE-CHENNAI BULLET TRAIN SERVICE: INDUSTRIES MINISTER



Bangalore, Apr. 27- The Karnataka government has come forward to introduce a 350km/ hour superfast Bullet Train service between Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai, Bangalore-Davanagere-Belgaum and Bangalore-Gulbarga to be developed by Japan Railway Company under the joint sponsorship of State and Central governments, said Minister for Major Industries Murugesh Nirani here yesterday.

Addressing a press conference here, Nirani said that a Japanese firm had opted to implement the Bullet Train project under the joint participation of State and Central Governments and a provision had been made for the project in this year's Railway Budget.

For people of the State who have just seen Metro Trains, the dream Bullet Train project with trains zooming at 350 kms an hour between major cities of the State and Chennai will indeed be a great gift.

The Industries Minister, who said that the Railways had already prepared a project which would be presented in the next State Cabinet meeting for approval, added that the Japanese firm had agreed to invest Rs. 1 lakh crore for implementation of the Bullet Train service between Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore in the first phase.

The services would be extended to Bangalore-Chitradurga-Davangere-Hubli-Belgaum in the second phase while Bangalore-Bidar-Gulbarga service would be implemented in the third phase.

He also said that a separate track for these Bullet Trains will be laid under which the journey time between Mysore-Bangalore will be reduced to just about half- an-hour while cities like Belgaum, Gulbarga and Chennai could be reached in a few hours.

Nirani, who said that the project was being launched for the overall development of the State, added that the Japanese firm had come forward with a plan to create a tunnel in the hills of Sakaleshpur in Hassan to help people reach Mangalore by reducing the distance by about 30 kms and also for the benefit of traders who go to Chennai harbour for business.

Japanese banks

Nirani also disclosed that the government would allot 20 acres of land to two Japanese Banks to open their branches on the outskirts of the city.

He added that industrial giant Honda Motor Co.Ltd. would set up its unit either near Kolar or Tumkur for which Honda had asked for 500 acres of land which the govt. was prepared to give.

The Honda also plans to set up a township, he said.

Also, consultations were held with a Singapore-based company to develop a Theme Park at the sea shore in Mangalore.

Speaking on the Global Investors Meet, the Industries Minister said that the Investors Meet to be held on June 7 and 8 would attract an investment of about Rs. 5 lakh crore.