Date:23/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/23/stories/2005072301401900.htm

Back Rlys planning `village-on-wheels' scheme in South

Our Bureau

Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, July 22

, THE Indian Railways is planning to introduce `village-on-wheels' trains in the three southern states, according to the Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr R. Velu.

In an informal chat with presspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of Kabakaputtur-Subrahmanya Road section on Hassan-Mangalore line at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district on Friday, he said his department is planning to introduce `village-on-wheels' trains on three or four routes in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

However, Mr Velu did not specify when these trains would be put into operation.

It may be mentioned here that the Union Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, had announced `village-on-wheels' trains in last year's budget with an aim to encourage budget tourism. He had proposed to run `village-on-wheels' trains of ordinary sleeper class to places of religious and historical importance.

Mr Yadav had said that these trains would collect the tourists from a region and take them to important religious and historical places at affordable cost.

Mr Velu said that department has earmarked Rs 318 crore for various developmental works in Karnataka as against Rs 280 crore over the previous financial year.