Date:22/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/22/stories/2006092208871500.htm

National

Railways Ministry to get land for Salem-Yeshwantpur bypass line

Special Correspondent

Cabinet decision will ensure faster clearance of train services

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to transfer 1.38 lakh square feet of land at the Jalahalli Air Force Station here to the Railway Ministry for construction of a bypass line in the Salem-Yeshwantpur section.

The decision paves the way for faster clearance of services on the bypass line at Yeshwantpur, which links the Yeshwantpur-Tumkur line along with the Yeshwantpur-Yelahanka/Yeshwantpur-Baiyappanahalli-Salem lines, obviating the need for reversing engines on the bypass line at Yeshwantpur.

Time-consuming

On an average, eight good trains are handled every day at Yeshwantpur. It is estimated that it took four hours for reversing the engine for every goods train. The process also involved use of 1,600 litres of fuel a day. In addition, 25 employees are engaged just for reversing the engine.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided to grant a financial assistance of Rs. 314 crore to the public sector ITI Limited to meet its immediate salary and other statutory dues. The employees would receive their salaries before the Dasara puja, a government spokesperson said.

A budgetary support of Rs. 80 crore would be provided to liquidate outstanding statutory dues and salaries and wages in Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited and Bharat Refractories Limited.

The CCEA approved the Adrirayala shaft project of the Singareni Collieries Company, which is expected to produce two million tonnes of coal a year. The project would help to meet the increasing fuel needs of the NTPC plant at Ramagundam.

Power transmission

A Rs. 975-crore project was cleared to strengthen the power transmission system in the eastern region. The project, expected to be completed in three years, would facilitate transfer of additional power from the upcoming projects in Sikkim, Bhutan and the northeast, the spokesperson said.