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South Western Railway officials said former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will flag off the train. However, the programme is yet to be finalised. DH file photo
Trains are set to chug on the new Chikbanavar-Hassan railway line with the railways setting March 26 as tentative date for the inauguration of the Yeshwantpur-Hassan intercity express.
South Western Railway officials said former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will flag off the train. However, the programme is yet to be finalised.
The direct line will reduce the distance between Bengaluru and Hassan from 259 km (via Arsikere) to 172 km. Work on the line started 19 years ago and the railways missed many deadlines due to problems associated with land acquisition.
The 179.28 km new line passes through Nelamangala, Kunigal, Yediyur and Shravanabelagola. The project was sanctioned in 1997 when Deve Gowda was prime minister.
In 2010, the state government agreed to share half of the project’s cost to expedite the work. The project took a major step forward after Siddaramaiah succeeded in getting the Kunigal stud farm acquired for laying the track.
South Western Railway officials said former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will flag off the train. However, the programme is yet to be finalised.
The direct line will reduce the distance between Bengaluru and Hassan from 259 km (via Arsikere) to 172 km. Work on the line started 19 years ago and the railways missed many deadlines due to problems associated with land acquisition.
The 179.28 km new line passes through Nelamangala, Kunigal, Yediyur and Shravanabelagola. The project was sanctioned in 1997 when Deve Gowda was prime minister.
In 2010, the state government agreed to share half of the project’s cost to expedite the work. The project took a major step forward after Siddaramaiah succeeded in getting the Kunigal stud farm acquired for laying the track.
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