Rail budget: CB Pur has high hopes

The people of the district are hopeful of this year’s railway budget that Minister Suresh Prabhu will present at the Parliament session on Thursday.

The people are looking forward to the development of railway stations, availability of various facilities, and the fulfillment of many more promises along with the implementation of new schemes. They say that this budget will not disappoint.

Though the Chikkaballapur, Gouribidanur, Chintamani and Shidlaghatta taluk stations are developed, they lack in facilities, say commuters.

At least this year, attention should be paid to making facilities available at the stations, they say. The district was formed eight years ago, but it was not given preference till now, they added.

The district is just 60 km from the capital city Bengaluru, but it has been neglected for one or the other reason.

If the railway department shows interest here and implements new schemes and undertakes expansion projects, the district might see the expected development, opine members of the Railway Struggle Committee.

The survey process from the Chikkaballapur-Puttaparthy rail has been completed. Now the laying of tracks and other developmental works need to be sanctioned. The appeal for the same was made many years ago, but the railway ministers or the department authorities have not paid any attention to it.  Committee member Say-yed Mahmood said, “The department has no understanding of how much the people will benefit from this line.” The Chikkaballapur and Gouribidanur line wasannounced in last year’s budget.  But following the announcement there has been no development in this regard. No other scheme was also implemented, he said.

To make sure that the district is not ignored in this budget too, a letter was written to the railway minister a few days ago. “We have appealed the department to fulfill several of our demands,” he said.