Date:23/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/23/stories/2004122305270300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Funds crunch stalls gauge conversion work

By Suresh Bhat

BIJAPUR, DEC. 22. Although the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, had assured that the gauge conversion between Bijapur and Bagalkot would be completed by the end of the current fiscal year, it is highly unlikely because of the State Government's failure to release its share of funds.

According to sources in South Western Railway (SWR), the gauge conversion is likely to be completed only up to Telagi Station, 46 km from Bijapur. This means that less than half the target of 96 km of gauge conversion set for the current financial year will be met.

Reminders

The State Government, which has a cost-sharing agreement with the Railways, has to release Rs. 61 crores as its share of expenditure on the project. The SWR has issued quite a few reminders to the Government in this regard and even threatened to halt work.

The Chief Engineer (Construction), SWR, in a letter dated October 14, 2004, a copy of which is available with The Hindu , clearly indicated that the department would be left with no option but to divert inputs meant for the conversion work to other projects if the dues were not cleared immediately.

During his visit to Bagalkot early this month, the Minister for Revenue, M.P. Prakash, said that the Government would release at least Rs. 10 crores for the purpose.

However, SWR sources said that no funds had been released till date. The department was still hopeful that the State would release at least part of its dues so that a few works such as construction of cross drainages and widening of earthen embankment could be taken up.

Final stages

There was no other problem in executing gauge conversion between Bijapur and Telagi. Almost all required inputs such as rails, sleepers, and track fittings had arrived at the work site. The Honagenhalli Bridge across the Don was in the final stages of completion, they said.

However, there was little progress on the 50-km stretch between Telagi and Bagalkot owing to financial crunch. Allied works were in progress but little was done in procuring rails, sleepers and track fittings. The stretch required 87,000 sleepers and 5,400 tonnes of rails.

Diverted

According to sources, most of the consignments, which should have arrived at the work site by now, were being supplied to other projects. Even if the State Government decided to clear the entire dues immediately, the department would find it difficult to procure rails and sleepers before March.