Rail link to Hassan a reality soon!
Built at a cost of Rs 1,290 crore, the project was funded on a cost sharing basis between Railway Ministry and the State Government.
Bengaluru: The new broad gauge line from Hassan to Chikbanavar, via Shravanabelagola, was commissioned by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday. Built at a cost of Rs 1,290 crore, the project was funded on a cost sharing basis between Railway Ministry and the State Government.
Though the train is currently named Inter-City express, former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda suggested it be renamed ‘Hemavati express’, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah favoured ‘Hassanamba’.
Addressing the gathering Mr Prabhu said, “Rs 8,56,000 crore has been allocated for Indian Railways. Priority will be given to doubling, tripling and electrification, or else the existing lines will get saturated.
In the next five years, we will double the length of electrified tracks. This will increase the speed; reduce energy cost by Rs 4,000 crore in the first year and Rs 41,000 cores in the next 10 years.”
Former Mr Deve Gowda said, “Before I die, I want to travel by the Bengaluru-Hassan train. Suresh Prabhu is the best Railway Minister we have had so far.”
Mr Prabhu added that the new train between Mangaluru and Bengaluru will start in a few months and might be called Gommateshwara Express. It will cut down travel time by four hours.
It may be recalled that the Bengaluru-Hassan line was sanctioned in 1996-97, when Deve Gowda was the prime minister, at and estimated cost was Rs 295 crore.
Assurance on suburban train
Regarding the 30 year old demand for suburban rail, Mr Prabhu said, “In principle three technical approvals have been given for Suburban Rail. The foundation stone will be laid in the next two months, sometime in May.”
This evoked loud cheer from the Chuku Buku volunteers.
They also raised slogans for 50:50 cost sharing. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar said, “In the last 3 years, RS 35,000 crore have been sanctioned from the Centre for Karnataka. This year, RS 4,000 crore has been sanctioned for railways in Karnataka. Mr Prabhu has spent a lot for Mumbai local platforms, electrification and more. I request him to do the same for Bengaluru Suburban Rail.”
In his address Mr Deve Gowda said, “In the last 20 years I have seen 14 railway ministers, who allocated funds for completion of suburban rail. The authorities always gave importance to revenue returns. Instead, they must improve the infrastructure and then expect good revenue.”
Upgrade of stations
Mr Prabhu said K.R. Puram, Yelahanka and Yeshwanthpur stations will be upgraded. Mangalore to Mumbai doubling will take place in the next five years.”
Sridhar Murthy, Senior Commercial Divisional Railway Manager said, “A passenger train between Shravanabelagola and Bengaluru will also be announced in the next 2-3 days. It will leave at 8 30 am and return at 2:45 pm.”
Crucial link
There was a rail line from Hassan to Shravanabelagola and from Chikabanavara to Nelamangala. The newly commissioned 111 km long Nelamangala to Shravanabelagola line would link the two existing lines.
Free land for rail projects
Siddaramaiah announced that land will be given free for railway projects and also made some requests to Mr Prabhu regarding some rail projects in the state.
“I request Mr Prabhu to convert existing Mangaluru-Hassan line into broad gauge. I also request for special trains to be added for the Mahasmastabhisheka that happens once in 12 years.” He also pointed out that due to severe drought in the state, fodder was being brought by train from Andhra and sought exemption of freight charges for the same.“We have already allocated more than Rs 300 crore in the budget for suburban rail project and we request for more,” he added.