Long pending rail projects in Karnataka to be taken up: Somanna

Davangere: Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna stated that railway projects that are 25 to 30-years-old are being taken up at a cost of Rs 39,000 crore.

Addressing media persons, here on Wednesday, he said, the Gadag-Talakal-Kushtagi route is being inaugurated on the May 15th. The work on the Sindhanur-Raichur railway line has been started. The work on the Lokapur-Khajjidoni railway line is also underway. "We have decided to complete all the old projects in the state in a phased manner by 2028."

Referring to Davangere-Chitradurga-Tumkur railway project, the minister claimed that 85 per cent of the land acquisition process for the Tumkur-Davanagere new railway line has been completed. A meeting has been called in Chitradurga on the 17th to discuss this, and senior officials of the Railways and Revenue Department, including MP Govinda Karajol, will participate. By December 2027, the long Tumkur-Davanagere railway line and the Rayadurga-Tumkur railway line will be inaugurated, he said.

He also stated that the Rail Over Bridges(ROB) and rail under bridges and Rail Under Bridge(RUB) works, which have been pending for the past ten years, are being carried out. The work of 23 rail over bridges and under bridges has been undertaken in the Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency at a cost of Rs 960 crore. Over 50 percent of the work has been completed. While the state government will provide land for the ROB and RUBs, the Centre has decided to bear 100 percent of the grant,’ he said.

MLA BP Harish and former central minister GM Siddeshwar were present.

'India ready to give befitting reply to any response from Pakistan Army'

Union Minister V Somanna stated that India is ready to give a befitting reply to any response from the Pakistan Army.

The attack carried out by the Indian Army, named 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam is commendable. Justice has been done for the injustice done to the innocent people. A precise attack has been carried out on the terrorist training camps without causing any harm to the civilians there, he said.

The government led by Prime Minister Modi is committed to eradicating terrorism from the roots. Over 140 crore people have expressed support for the Indian Army,' he added.