Karnataka - Bangalore

Karnataka’s expectations belied

BANGALORE: People of Karnataka, who had great expectations from Friday’s Railway Budget because of a Kannadiga’s presence in the Railway Ministry, were disappointed as their demands were not completely addressed by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Karnataka got eight new trains, extension of four trains, increase in the frequency of one train, one new line, two track doubling works, seven surveys for new lines, three world-class stations, two Adarsh (model) stations and two multi-functional complexes.

Sources in South Western Railway said SWR had sought a direct train between Bijapur and Mysore via Hospet, Bellary, Birur, Arsikere and Hassan.

The pan-Karnataka train would have connected most parts of the State, particularly places of tourist importance. SWR had also suggested extension of the Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore night train service to Karwar or at least to Udupi, as people, particularly those from the coastal belt, had contributed a lot for the gauge conversion work between Sakaleshpur and Subramanya Road.

Also, the SWR had expected the introduction of suburban trains around Bangalore; connectivity between Tumkur and Mysore via Bangalore; Bangarpet and Mysore via Bangalore etc., which would have accelerated the economic activity in the region.

On the brighter side, its recommendation for new train between Bangalore and Solapur via Hubli, intercity express between Bangalore and Shimoga and Mysore-Yeshwanthpur Express are included in the budget.

Doubling of lines between Yeshwanthpur and Yelahanka and between Yelahanka and Channasandra would remove small bottlenecks around Bangalore. Repeated pleas for creation of two new divisions, one in Mangalore and the other in Gulbarga, have not been accepted, rued Prakash Mandoth, member of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who is fighting for railway projects in the State.

He said the recommendations were made in 1984 by the Sarin Committee. The proposed Rajdhani Express via Kacheguda is only to utilise the unused rakes of Kacheguda (Hyderabad) – Nizamuddin Rajdhani during three days of the week, Mr. Mandoth alleged.

He said if at all the Railways was serious to offer Rajdhani Express to Karnataka, it should have routed the train via Hubli.

The Yeshwanthpur-Mysore Express is not a new service as an already running special train is given this status. Extending the Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore train to Kannur is gross injustice caused to the people of Karnataka, who had actually been demanding introduction of a day train between the two cities, Mr. Mandoth said. Ms. Banerjee also failed to reintroduce the Gol Gumbaz Express, which was withdrawn following gauge conversion work between Gadag- Solapur, he lamented.

As far as railway stations are concerned, Ms. Banerjee has offered to upgrade three important stations in the State to world standards.

Earlier, only Byappanahalli in Bangalore was supposed to get this tag. Now, along with Byappanahalli, Bangalore city as well as Mangalore too will be upgraded.

Also, the Minister has promised to provide multi-functional complexes at Hubli and Mysore, out of the 50 stations listed across the country.

However, of the 305 stations listed by Ms. Banerjee to be made Adarsh (model), only two from Karnataka figured in it: Bidar and Londa.

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