Karnataka State to fast-track languishing railway projects

Bengaluru: Infrastructure Development Minister V Somanna on Wednesday said that the State will fast-track railway projects that have been languishing since 2007, in a time-bound manner.

He said, the cost of most of these projects have almost doubled.

"Since 2007, nine railway projects that were launched have not been completed.....after discussion, as the cost has also gone up, putting a burden on both state and central government, we have decided to fast-track these projects. Within 15-20 days, land acquisition and other hurdles will be cleared in a time bound manner," Somanna said.

"The State government is in talks with Indian railway authorities. They were being laggard. We have sent across whatever message we had to and work will speed up from tomorrow," he added. The minister reviewed the infrastructure development department and held discussions with railway officials regarding the languishing projects.

Of the nine railway projects cleared since 2007, at least four have seen their total cost go up.

According to Somanna, the cost of the Tumakuru-Rayadurg line has gone up from Rs 479 crore to Rs 2,432 crore, Ginigera-Raichur from Rs 1,350 crore to Rs 2,565 crore, Bagalkot-Kudachi from Rs 816 crore to Rs 1,525 crore and Tumakuru-Chitradurga-Davangere from Rs 1,801 crore to Rs 2,161 crore. Karnataka has a 50 per cent share in the cost of these projects.

Other than these four, the other railway projects that have been languishing and will be expedited are Munirabad-Mehaboobanagar; Gadag-Wadi; Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur; Chikkamagaluru-Belur; Belur-Hassan and Dharwad- Belagavi (which is yet to start). Noting that about 56 pending railway over bridges and under bridges (ROB/RUB) are languishing in various places, including Bengaluru, Tumakuru among others, Somanna said after discussions, it has been decided to give some shape to this.