Title - Kharge promises to rev up 7 railway projects

ANGALORE: A sum of Rs 600 crore to expedite work on seven long-pending railway projects and a promise to clear hurdles for Bangalore Metro work are some of the sops that the new railways minister Mallikarjun M Kharge doled out to his home state on Monday."Railways and Karnataka government together have decided to spend an additional Rs 600 crore in the current financial year to expedite work on seven pending rail projects,'' Kharge told reporters after a meeting with senior railway and state government officials.He said while the Centre would give an additional Rs 300 crore, the state would also chip in with an equal amount to take up those projects on a "war-footing". "We have decided to give more money for some urgent works and complete them in eight to ten months," he added.He also put the onus of project completion on the state government and said it should take it up on priority and resolve disputes relating to land acquisition hampering rail expansion.Kharge said Karnataka has received a share of Rs 900 crore for projects in the railway budget 2013-14 and if one were to include electrification and doubling of tracks, it would cross Rs 1,200 crore.

The sops from Kharge, however, have not impressed everyone. "We were expecting new railway lines and new trains for the state. But he simply belied our expectations. Even the sops of Rs 300 crore are just not enough,'' said S Hariprasad, a member of FKCCI, adding the promised projects were already on track and there was nothing new about it.

Kharge maintained that he decided to speed up the pending projects because there is less than a year for his term to end and making tall promises would simply not fetch results.

Removing hurdles for Metro

Kharge said the Bangalore Metro officials have apprised him about the hurdles involved in the work of Metro and he would take it up as a priority. "The onus of Metro work is largely on the state government but we have some issues to sort out. I will do all the needful to ensure work goes on smoothly,'' he added.

No hike in rail fares

Kharge ruled out increasing rail fares this year in view of diesel price hike. "There is no such proposal, and fares would not be raised. We will take the financial burden ourselves and not pass it on to passengers," Kharge said.

Booking to become smooth

Kharge said the railways will increase the number of servers to facilitate hassle-free booking of rail tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Website. "The pressure on IRCTC servers has already come down with the introduction of SMS booking. It's just a matter of time," he added.

New railway divisions

Kharge said he will examine the long-pending demand to include Gulbarga and Mangalore railway divisions in the South Western Railway Zone. "I cannot promise just like that. I have to see whether it is feasible. If necessary I will get the feasibility report done before taking a final decision,'' he added.

Kunigal stud farm

The railway is in a state of preparedness to execute work on the vital Bangalore-Hassan railway line which cuts across the historical Kunigal stud farm. But due to land acquisition problems the project has got delayed. "I have asked the state government to discuss the issue with business magnate Vijay Mallya and resolve it at the earliest. This is also true in case of land acquisition problems on Mangalore-Shravanabelagola route,'' Kharge said.

Mysore-Bangalore doubling

The work to shift the 225-year-old Tipu Sultan's armoury which has come in the way of Bangalore-Mysore railway line doubling project can only be expected to begin next year. "We are waiting for shifting of the armoury to protect it without causing any damage to the structure,'' Kharge said. The armoury, which is one of eight constructed by erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, comes under the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka and is situated close to the railway track at the Srirangapatna Railway Station.

Pending projects

Routes --------------------------- Deadline/ clearing hurdles

Kadur-Chikmagalur - ----------- Nov 2013

Kolar-Chikkaballapur ------------ Dec 2013

Gadwal-Raichur ----------------------August 15, 2013

Hotagi- Gulbarga ---- -------------Dec 2014-15

Hassan-Bangalore --------------- To decide on Kunigal stud farm

Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama --- To get nod

Bidar-Humanabad --- -----------------Two-and-a-half-years

Minister's promises

Kharge promised to sort out hurdles in the Bangalore Metro on a priority basis

He ruled out increasing rail fares this year in view of diesel price hike

Railways will increase the number of servers to facilitate hassle-free booking

Examine demand to include Gulbarga, Mangalore divisions in South Western Railway Zone

Asks state to discuss Kunigal stud farm issue with industrialist Vijay Mallya to sort out Bangalore-Hassan line

Tipu Sultan's armoury, which has come in the way of Bangalore-Mysore doubling project, to be shifted from next year