Date:13/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/13/stories/2004111306470300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Better rail connectivity demanded for Hospet-Bellary section

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, NOV. 12. Babulal Jain, member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee, South Western Railway, Hubli, has urged the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, to provide more rail connectivity for the Gadag-Hospet-Bellary section.

In a letter to the Railway Minister, Mr. Jain has pointed out that the Hospet-Bellary section, despite having freight revenue of around Rs. 700 crores by way of transportation of iron ore to Chennai and Goa, stood neglected.

He drew the attention of the Railway Minister to the fact that Bellary and Koppal districts were emerging as major steel production centres with several major integrated steel plants being set up. Mr. Jain also urged the Railway Minister to introduce direct trains between Bangalore and Jodhpur/Ajmer via Guntakal, Bellary, and Hubli and another train between Chennai and Vasco via Guntakal, Bellary, Hospet, and Hubli.

`Extend services'

He said that the Railways had introduced a holiday special weekly train between Chennai and Vasco via Bellary, but the service was later changed to ply between the two stations via Bangalore and Hubli.

The diversion of the train via the Guntakal-Bellary-Hubli route would benefit passengers of the region. Moreover, the distance between Chennai-Vasco via Bangalore was longer than via Bellary-Hubli, he said.

Though there were many passengers going to Jodhpur and Ajmer from the region, there were not many trains passing through the region, he said. A weekly train service between Bangalore-Ajmer/Jodhpur via Bellary would benefit the passengers of about seven districts, he said.

Change in timing

Mr. Jain urged the Mr. Lalu Prasad to intervene and clear the proposal of extending the services of Tungabhadra Express (train no. 7607/7608) till Hubli.

He stressed the need to change the timings of the Amaravati Express from Hubli so that it would help Chennai-bound passengers to get a connection at Guntakal.

Mr. Jain also requested the Railway Minister to upgrade the Hospet Railway Station as it was the closest rail link to Hampi, which was growing as an international tourist destination.