'Kadur-C'magalur railway line in two years'

Railway Minister has promised to take up the project: DV

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, he said that both Central Railway Minister Mamtha Banerjee and Minister of State for Railway H Muniyappa have promised to take up the project during the Railway Advisory Committee meeting.

He said that the Committee has agreed to speed up the Kadur-Chikmagalur Sakleshpur railway line works. The Minister had instructed the officials to lay the track from Kadur-Kanivehalli covering 25 kms this year and complete another 21 km to Chikmagalur, next year.

“Union Minister H Muniyappa will be visiting the district on July 10. He will discuss with the district administration with regard to the obstacles and problems in implementation of the project,” Gowda said and added that the total project will cost Rs 456 crore and by March end, a sum of Rs 88.28 crore has been spent. Another Rs 80 crore will be spent soon. As much as 10.18 acre has been allocated for Kanivehalli railway station and a sum of Rs 4.77 lakh has been deposited for the same. There is a need for Rs 3.75 crore and an area of 35.20 acre land for Hiremagalur railway station. In this regard, a sum of Rs 94.39 lakh has been deposited. He further said that details have been gathered with regard to establishment of railway crossing at Machagondanahalli, Devanahalli, Devanoor, Birur and Ajjampura. Another 13.36 acre has been ear marked for Ramanahalli, Bisalehalli, Sakharayapatna railway stations. District administration has agreed to give the required land.

Coffee package

Gowda said that banks have not been responding positively for the implementation of coffee package of the Central government. Further, coffee growers organisations have expressed their disappointment over the fact that no representatives of coffee growers have been invited for the meet of Coffee Board President, Officials and elected representatives.

“The issue will be brought to the notice of the Board officials and they will be asked to invite representatives of the growers to the meetings to be held in future,” Gowda said.
He said that Monitoring Committee meet will be held in New Delhi on July 9. It may not be possible to have coffee growers representatives in the meet but they will surely be invited for the next meet, Gowda assured the growers and said that discussion will be held with the Chief Minister to see to it that the funds released by the Government to Comark can be invested in the market.

With regard to yellow leaf disease, Gowda said that there is a need to collect details on the area affected by this disease and the loss incurred. “A preliminary survey has been done. The survey will be completed by September,” he said.

CDA President Srikanth Pai, Town Municipal Council President Thammaiah, Leaders Varasiddhevenugopal, Rajashekar and others were present.

‘I am not Santhosh Hegde’

“I am not like Santosh Hegde”. Pat came the answer from D V Sadananda Gowda to a question whether he would accept the post of KMF President if the BJP offers him. “I had resigned as KMF Director because I did not want to,” he said adding that he did not resign with any differences or anger.