Release funds to speed up rail projects, Kharge tells State

Expressing concern over the delayed railway projects including Bangalore- Hassan railway lines in the State, Union Railway Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge, on Saturday, urged the State government to immediately release its share of funds for the projects and ensure quick land acquisition process to complete the ongoing projects.

Speaking after flagging off the Yeshwantpur-Mangalore Weekly Express here, Kharge lashed out at the government saying that only Rs 50 crore has been released by the State government, while the Railways released Rs 320 crore.  “We have earmarked over Rs. 700 crore for projects in Karnataka and the funding should be shared equally by the State government. In the next six months, the government has to release the balance Rs 650 crore at the rate of Rs 109 crore a month, but it is lagging behind,” he said.

Pointing out that the delay in land acquisition has hampered the progress of projects, Kharge said if the government provides land at Kunigal Stud  Farm, the Hassan- Bangalore new line will be ready within a year. 

He said that if the government rehabilitates affected people on Chikkaballapur- Kolar stretch, the rail service will begin at the earliest. “It is the same with Kottur-Harihar stretch where land acquisition is hampering the project,” he said. On Kadur- Chikmagalaur line, Kharge said it will begin within a month. Union Minister for Petroleum M Veerappa Moily called for making Mangalore and Gulbarga new divisional headquarters for the South Western Railway.

Train timings

The Yeshwantpur-Mangalore Weekly Express will leave Yeshwanthpur at 11.55 p.m. on Sundays and arrive at Mangalore at 5.40 p.m. on Mondays. It will start from Mangalore at 8 pm on Mondays to reach Yeshwantpur at 1.30 pm on Tuesdays. The train will stop at Banaswadi, Krishnarajapura, Bangarpet, Kuppam, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Vadakkara, Thalassery, Kannur, Payyanur and Kasargod. It will have one two-tier air-conditioned coach, one three-tier air-conditioned coach, seven second class sleeper coaches, six second class coaches and two second class sitting-cum-luggage vans.