Mysore-Blore twin track by 09

Mysore-Blore twin track by 09
DH News Service, Mysore/Bangalore:

The much awaited Mysore-Bangalore railway line doubling will be completed by 2009, according to Parliamentary Railway Standing Committee Chairman Basudeb Acharie. Speaking to media persons here on Thursday., he said the committee was on a visit to Mysore railway workshop and meet officials.

Acharie said the electrification would be done along with the line doubling. “Mysore division is doing a good work. Some modernisation is required to give facelift to the division. We will recommend the ministry to sanction necessary funds,” he said.

One of the major recommendations, Acharie said, would be to allocate sufficient funds to make signalling system more robust and efficient. “Good railway system is dependant on good signalling. We will take all care to make this better,” he said.

The committee felt that the 127 railway stations in the region needed to have basic facilities for passengers. “Discussions regarding Mangalore-Bangalore railway line will also be initiated. The committee will make suggestions regarding extending Kachiguda-Yeswantapura train till Mysore and extension of Mysore - Chamarajanagar train till Mettupalyam,” he assured. Modernisation of railway workshop will be taken up at cost of Rs 46.61 crore and construction of goods shed will be done at a cost of Rs 1 crore, he said.

Mysore MP C H Vijayshankar, former Chief Minister of Assam Giridhar Gomango were present on the occasion. However, another member of the committee, former PM H D Deve Gowda was absent.

Mangalore train
In Bangalore, Mr Acharie disclosed that the committee has recommended to the Commissioner of Railway Safety (New Delhi) to grant permission to run passenger trains on the Bangalore-Mangalore sector. He said the South Western railway had agreed to adhere to speed restriction.

“Frequent landslides on the Sakleshpur sector resulted in cancellation of passenger trains being run. Only frieght/goods trains are presently operating on the sector,” he said.

He added the South Western railway would seek more funds from the Ministry in the next budget to improve infrastructure in Karnataka in a time-bound manner. Speaking on the problems faced by the SW railway, Mr Acharie stated shortage of staff and filling up vacant posts were also discussed during the performance appraisal meet.