CM welcomes railway budget proposals announced for Karna

Bangalore, Feb 25 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister B SYeddyurappa welcomed the new railway projects sanctioned tothe state by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the budgetpresented today.

Offerring his reaction to the press on the Railway budgethere, he commended sanctioning of 11 new trains and extensionof services of four existing trains.

He also welcomed the proposal to establish on PPP model aRail Coach Manufacturing unit in Kolar and Railway TrainingInstitute at Dharwad.

Yeddyurappa lamented on the delay in implementation ofvarious railway projects despite the state sharing 50 per centof the cost and wanted the Railways to put all the on-goingprojects on fast track.

Yeddyurappa pointed out that during 2010-11 Karnataka hadsanctioned Rs 472 crore towards its share for sharing cost ofRailway projects and earmarked a budgetary allocation of Rs478 crore for 2011-12.

He said the railway track density in the state was a poor16 km per 1000 sq km as against the national average of 21 kmsper 1000 sq km and wanted the Railways to hasten the projectsto improve the density.

He wanted the Railways to take up immediately survey of 10new lines and also on the six lines proposed for trackdoubling announced in the budget.

He urged Railways to take up Anandapura-Talaguppa andChintamani-Kolar gauge conversion work without delay.

He also welcomed Railways proposal including Bangaloreunder linking satellite towns and also electrification ofBangalore-Hubli line.

The state had also earmarked another Rs 30 crore for theconstruction of ROB and Railway Underpass in the state.

He said that he would soon convene a meeting of the MPsfrom the state and discuss on various pending Railway projectsto take up with the Centre.