JOIN US'Extension of train to Kannur unavoidable'
Addressing a press conference on Friday on the eve of flagging off of Mangalore-Bangalore day train, he said the ministry is ready to discuss any problems arising out of the extension, but the proposed extension cannot be withdrawn. “The Railways is concerned with the interests of the whole country, and one cannot expect that its services should be restricted to some areas. We will discuss to sort out any inconvenience caused due to this,” he said.
World class station
Along with Bangalore City and Baiyapanahalli stations, Mangalore Central will also be upgraded into a world class railway station, regarding which an expert committee will soon give a report, the minister said.
The facilities including accommodation in the railway stations will be upgraded to international standards with PPP basis.
However, this model will be entirely different from what had been envisaged during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s term, he clarified.
Partnership projects
Muniyappa said the ministry would take up a total of seven projects in State with the government’s participation. In all, the State government will invest Rs 1,741 crore while the Railways will invest Rs 1,511 crore.
The cost sharing projects include railway lines between Kottur-Harihara, Hubli-Ankola, Munirabad-Raichur, guage conversion between Solapur-Gadag, Shimoga-Talaguppa and Mysore-Ramanagar. Apart from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jarkhand governments have also come forward for cost sharing projects, the minister said.
Station near airport
Palghat Division DRM Y P Singh said they have not received any proposal for establishing a railway station near Mangalore airport. However, Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj said a fresh proposal is being sent through proper channel. “The proposal sent to the Palghat division was sent back saying that it should have been sent through Infrastructure Department,” he clarified.
Upgradation
Konkan Railway Director (Operations) B P Tayal said the State government has agreed to release Rs 16.10 crore for the development of Baindoor station. The Railways has set up a new station at Nandikoor while a new bypass line has been laid at Tokur for the convenience of goods trains, he informed.
The speed of trains while entering the stations in between Mangalore and Udupi has been increased to 30 kmph from 15 kmph, Tayal added.