Date:12/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/12/stories/2007041217580500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kengeri-Ramanagaram double track to be ready in six months

Staff Reporter

Bangalore-Shravanabelagola and Chickballapur-Kolar line work in progress

BANGALORE: The railway line doubling work between Kengeri-Ramanagaram on Mysore line and Yeshwanthpur-Tumkur line is in an advanced stage and will be completed within six months, according to Mahesh Mangal, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railway (SWR), Bangalore Division.

Speaking at the 52nd Railway Week celebrations here on Wednesday, Mr. Mangal said the doubling work on Bangalore-Kengeri section was complete and the doubled lines have been commissioned. Work on the new Bangalore-Shravanabelagola line and Chickaballapur-Kolar line doubling was in progress. Mr. Mangal said Bangalore Division posted a revenue of Rs. 636 crore in 2006-07 as against Rs. 528 crore the previous year. The safety performance too was commendable with just two accidents while there were five in 2005-06 and seven in 2003-04.

There had been a 12 per cent increase in the number of passengers travelled with 5.75 crore passengers travelling in 2006-07.

Although Bangalore Division had predominantly been a passenger-oriented division, the freight loading was increased from 1.27 tonnes to 1.42 tonnes during the period.

On the occasion, the names of officers and employees who received awards were announced.

Railway Board Awards (to be presented by the Railway Minister on April 14 at Secundrabad) — P. Krishnan, Senior Financial Advisor/ Traffic and M. Mamatha, Senior Engineer, Telecom. SWR Zonal Headquarters Awards (to be presented by the General Manager at Hubli on April 13) — N. Ramesh, Senior Divisional Safety Officer; M.A.V. Ramanujam, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer; Govind Pande, Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer; V. Rama Manohar Rao, Senior Divisional Finance Manager; Sajeesh Kumar, Divisional Operations Manager; K.E. Ansar, Area Officer, Satellite Goods Terminal; and T.S. Suraj Kumar, Assistant Divisional Engineer.