The Railway Ministry has agreed to the State government’s suggestion to set up a high-speed railway corridor between Bangalore and Hubli and Hubli and Pune besides extending it to Mysore from Bangalore.
Participating in a discussion on the railway projects in Karnataka organised by the State Council Secretariat, Principal Secretary to Department of Infrastructure V P Baligar said that a joint survey for setting up the corridor would be taken up soon. Earlier the Centre had shown reservation to the State’s suggestion made in this regard. In fact the Centre had proposed a high speed railway corridor between Bangalore-Chennai and Bangalore-Cochin. But Karnataka had told the Centre that it would not participate in the project as it would not benefit the State.
Similarly the State has also suggested for setting up a flight corridor between Bangalore -Hubli and Hubli to Pune. Baligar said that a feasibility study would be conducted regarding laying of a railway line upto the Jog Falls. At present the railway line is being laid upto Talaguppe, which is about 14 kms from the Jog Falls. “This step is being contemplated to boost tourism,” he added.
Baligar said the State had suggested to the Centre to take up Gadag-Haveri, Kushalnagar-Holenarasipura, Shimoga-Harihar, Dharwad-Bailahongal-Belgaum, Shahabad-Bagalkote-Kuchi and Talaguppa-Honnavar lines. Already survey had been ordered in case of Talaguppa-Honnavar line.
Due for inauguration
Chief Engineer of South Western (Construction) Railway Balakrishna said the  Mysore-Chamarajanagar line (guage conversion) is due for inauguration in a couple of months.
While the Sholapur-Gadag line would be completed by June 2008, the Kottur-Harihar line would be thrown open to public by March 2009. Moreover, with completion of guage conversion of Shimoga-Talaguppe line, all guage would be converted to broad guage in the State.
Baligar said that joint-survey of the Bangalore-Ankola project, which had been held up for some time, has recommenced now. By April end the report would be sent to the Centre.
Council Chairman B K Chandrashekhar said the State government would be asked to provide at least Rs 500 crore annually for railway projects in the State.
Following a suggestion made by MLC M P Nadagouda the Council Chairman agreed to take a delegation to New Delhi to discuss the measures to be taken to expedite the railway projects in the State.

MATERIAL SHORTAGE

The completion of railway projects in the State is being delayed due to the problems relating to contractors, labourers and shortage of materials like sleepers and signal wire.
Interacting with members of the State Legislative Council on Wednesday, South Western Railway Chief Engineer Balakrishna said that it was not shortage of funds which was affecting the completion of railway projects, but capacity utilisation.
Balakrishna said of the three qualified sleeper manufacturers in the State, two have stopped their production.
When the Railways recently floated tenders for setting up six sleeper manufacturing units in the State, contractors came forward to set up at only three places. The main reason for this is very steep increase in steel and cement prices”, he pointed.
However Dr M P Nada Gouda, MLC, felt that the contractors’ lobby in the railways was creating hurdles for the new entrants to the sector.