The Railways in Karnataka have set a target of laying 500 km of track per year.
Reviewing the Railway projects in the State, the Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr K. H. Muniyappa, said, “At present, we are laying 150 kms per year due to non-availability of land. Since the State Government has assured the required land, we plan to take up laying 500 km of track per year.”
The Railways and the State Government had set a target of executing 3,000 km on a cost-sharing basis a couple of year ago and only 800 km has been completed so far.
“The balance 2,200 km, which are in various stages of completion, are to be speeded up to be completed in the next three years in the State on a cost-sharing basis,” said Mr Muniyappa.
There are 15 projects under the cost-sharing basis between Railways and the State Government. During the current financial year, the Budget grant for projects taken up by South Western Railway (SWR) is Rs 387.19 crore of which Rs 116 crore has been deposited by the State Government, said Mr A. K. Mittal, General Manager of SWR.
“The entire funds allotted by the State Government has been fully utilised and further Rs 135 crore is expected from them and Rs 125 crore from the Railways,” he added.
During the current financial year the following projects are to be completed. Maddur-Hanakere (nine km) doubling; two block section on Arsikere-Birur-Shivani doubling; Kolar-Chintamani (45 km) gauge conversion; Chikballapur-Sidalaghatta (16 Km) gauge conversion; and Sakrepatna-Kanvihalli (16 km) new line.
According to Mr Muniyappa, the Karnataka Government has proposed four new projects covering about 1,000 km, which include Kudachi-Bagalkot, Gadag-Tumkur, Shimoga-Harihara and Whitefield-Kolar.
The State Government has so far transferred 700 acres of land to the Railways and has speeded up the process to transfer 2300 acres in the last four months to complete the projects on time.
The survey on introducing a high speed train between Bangalore-Chennai is under progress, he further said.