Railway Budget approves most of state projects

Railway Budget approves most of state projects

Mangalore Today News Network

February 25: Majority of the projects proposed by the state of Karnataka have received the Railway Budget nod. Some of these projects are a testing and development centre at the Yelahanka Wheel Factory, a wheel design, 9 new long-distance trains, a non-stop Yeshwantpur to Delhi train, 3 Bharat Tirth trains, and 3 passenger suburban trains. A sum of Rs 1,200 crore has been earmarked for the railway projects this year. The railway ministry has also approved of the state government’s proposal to share 50 percent of the cost of the projects. 

Rs. 544 crore has been earmarked for the construction of new lines; Rs 86 crore has been allotted for gauge conversion; and Rs 25 crore has been set aside for lane doubling. Besides this, Rs 32 crore has been allotted for the construction of 14 railway overbridges and underbridges in Bangalore and other places. A survey will be conducted for 12 new lines, which includes lines connected pilgrim centres such as Moodubidri, Dharmasthala, Sringeri, and Kollur. A new line connecting Kudachi and Bagalkot has been finally approved. 

K H Muniyappa, the minister of state for railway, said that only two proposals haven’t received the nod of approval—the extension of the Bangalore-Mangalore train to Karwar and Bangalore to Kachiguda train, adding that the two proposals will be implemented in the near future. 

H N Ananth Kumar, the senior BJP leader, said that the Union Railway Minister Mamatha Banerjee totally ignored Karnataka in the Railway Budget in spite of Karnata’s contributions toward the enhancement of railway infrastructure. 

The railway minister has not made any signifciant allocation to projects such as Tumkur-Davangere, Talguppa-Honnavar, Shimoga-Harihar, Gadag-Haveri, Bijapur-Shahbad, and Dharward-Belgaum railway lines. 

Mr. Kumar said that only a meagre sum of Rs 4 crore has been allotted for the Bagalkot - Kudachi line; but this project requires Rs 815 crore.

He said that the railway minister has given scant attention to the Bangalore division in spite of the fact that it has recorded the hightest revenues.