Title - Kharge’s green signal for rail projects

Bengaluru: In an effort to accelerate the execution of some long-pending railway projects ahead of next year’s polls to Lok Sabha, the Union and state governments agreed to fork out Rs 300 crores each on Monday. Speaking to media persons after chairing a meeting to review the progress of railway projects in Karnataka, railways minister M Mallikarjun Kharge said “the allocation in this year’s budget is Rs 900 crore, and if the budgetary provision for electrification and doubling of tracks is included it will go upto Rs 1200 crore.Now, both the Centre and state government have agreed to spend an additional Rs 300 crore each to complete some of the projects which could possibly be completed within 10 months.

We have decided to take up these projects on a war-footing.” Kharge said though almost all pending railway projects were discussed at the meeting, the stake holders decided to release funds to some of them so that they would be ready in eight to ten months.

Besides, he also called some officers in-charge of these projects and made them commit to the deadline in the presence of media persons.

The projects which would be taken up on priority include include Kadur-Chikmagalur (deadline November 2013), Kolar-Chikballapur (deadline December 2013), Gadwar-Raichur (deadline August 15), and Kotagi-Gulbarga (December 15). Besides, land disputes would be resolved through Lok Adalat and designated land acquired as early as possible.

Doubling of tracks would be taken up if state government agrees to acquire land along Bengaluru-Mysore and Bengaluru-Mangalore tracks. The minister ruled out a hike in train fares following an increase in price of diesel. "There is no such proposal, and fares will not be raised,” he added.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Railway Board official said the capacity of the server of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) would be incr­eased to overcome problems in securing tickedts over the internet.

On behalf of the state government, public works minister H C Mahad­evappa, chief secretary S V Ranganath, principal secretaries of finance, revenue, infrastructure and urban development, attended the meeting.