<p>The State has witnessed slow progress on the various railway projects, despite efforts promised by the State government and the Railways to complete them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The State government, with its promises of sharing costs with the Railways for important projects and having a representative in the form of Minister of State for Railways, has not helped matters, according to information obtained through RTI.<br /><br />Deendayal Koli, a resident of Rajajinagar, has sought information from the Ministry of Railways details of all the pending projects in the State. <br /><br />However, the information provided under RTI does not reflect the true status of some of the projects.<br /><br />For example, the status on the Kottur-Harihar line (65 km) says that work has been completed and is expected to be commissioned shortly. <br /><br />However, it is a known fact that a small stretch of the line is yet to be completed as farmers, who are unhappy with the compensation being offered, are not parting with the land.<br /><br />Dismal state<br /><br />The status of other projects is equally disappointing. The Kadur-Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur line (93 km), which was included in the budget for 1996-97, has been completed only to an extent of 32 km. <br /><br />While 14 km more is yet to be completed in 2011-12, another stretch of 47 km on the Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur stretch is likely to be abandoned due to ‘low operational priority.’ <br />The Kadur-Chikmagalur section (46 km) is said to be in progress and the 14-km stretch between Kanivehalli and Chikmagalur, according to the Railways, is slated for completion in 2011-12, but people familiar with the project on this section say there is hardly any progress and defintely nowhere near completion.<br /><br />The work on the much touted Hubli-Ankola line (167 km) has been completely stopped as per the directives of the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court and the matter is now subjudice.<br /><br />Another project that has flopped is the Bangalore-Satyamangalam line (260 km), with both the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka requested that the project be dropped. <br /><br />Problems aplenty<br /><br />However, the State governments have not yet sent their reports to the Centre on their decision. <br /><br />The project has been mired in problems since its inclusion in the budget in 1996-97 as it relates to the acquisition of forest land, something the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu objected to.<br /><br />One of the other ambitious projects was the Yelahanka-Yeshwantpur line (12.07 km) announced in 2009-10 budget. Despite no land acquisition involved as the whole stretch belongs to the government, the land has not been handed over.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The State has witnessed slow progress on the various railway projects, despite efforts promised by the State government and the Railways to complete them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The State government, with its promises of sharing costs with the Railways for important projects and having a representative in the form of Minister of State for Railways, has not helped matters, according to information obtained through RTI.<br /><br />Deendayal Koli, a resident of Rajajinagar, has sought information from the Ministry of Railways details of all the pending projects in the State. <br /><br />However, the information provided under RTI does not reflect the true status of some of the projects.<br /><br />For example, the status on the Kottur-Harihar line (65 km) says that work has been completed and is expected to be commissioned shortly. <br /><br />However, it is a known fact that a small stretch of the line is yet to be completed as farmers, who are unhappy with the compensation being offered, are not parting with the land.<br /><br />Dismal state<br /><br />The status of other projects is equally disappointing. The Kadur-Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur line (93 km), which was included in the budget for 1996-97, has been completed only to an extent of 32 km. <br /><br />While 14 km more is yet to be completed in 2011-12, another stretch of 47 km on the Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur stretch is likely to be abandoned due to ‘low operational priority.’ <br />The Kadur-Chikmagalur section (46 km) is said to be in progress and the 14-km stretch between Kanivehalli and Chikmagalur, according to the Railways, is slated for completion in 2011-12, but people familiar with the project on this section say there is hardly any progress and defintely nowhere near completion.<br /><br />The work on the much touted Hubli-Ankola line (167 km) has been completely stopped as per the directives of the Central Empowered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court and the matter is now subjudice.<br /><br />Another project that has flopped is the Bangalore-Satyamangalam line (260 km), with both the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka requested that the project be dropped. <br /><br />Problems aplenty<br /><br />However, the State governments have not yet sent their reports to the Centre on their decision. <br /><br />The project has been mired in problems since its inclusion in the budget in 1996-97 as it relates to the acquisition of forest land, something the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu objected to.<br /><br />One of the other ambitious projects was the Yelahanka-Yeshwantpur line (12.07 km) announced in 2009-10 budget. Despite no land acquisition involved as the whole stretch belongs to the government, the land has not been handed over.<br /><br /></p>
