Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
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Resolves to constitute a committee of officials for the speedy implementation of rail projects’.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Railway Minister Ashwin Vaishnav decided to constitute a committee of senior officials of Railways and Karnataka Government for the speedy implementation of ongoing rail projects in the state.
Both Bommai and Vaishnav reviewed nine new railway line projects which have been taken up on a 50:50 ratio with the Government of India.
They resolved to constitute a committee of senior officials of both railways and the state government to ensure the speedy completion of all rail projects with better coordination and within the stipulated time.
Priority for land acquisition
The CM instructed officials concerned to give priority for the acquisition of land required for railway projects.
The land acquisition must be hastened for those projects which are in great demand and urgency in its completion.
The officials said nine rail projects required 15,000 acres and the acquisition process has been completed for 9,000 acres.Another 6,000 acres of land need to be acquired.
The CM opined that it is possible for the time-bound completion of all the pending rail projects if both Railway Department and State governments release their share of money in time.
Coordination required
Union Railway Minister Ashwin Vaishnav said speedy implementation of railway projects is their priority for which the officials of state government and railways must work with better coordination. He also appreciated the Government of Karnataka for its land acquisition process.
Both Bommai and Vaishnav reviewed the progress of Gadag-Wadi,Rayadurg-Tumkur, Ginigera-Raichur,Tumkur-Chitradurga-Davangere, Bagalkot-Kudachi,Kadur-Chikmagalur-Belur, Hassan-Belur, Shivamogga,Ranebennur, Marikuppam-Kuppam,Belgaum-Dharwad and other new railway line projects.
The duo also discussed the Bengaluru Suburban Railway line and the electrification of the railway line. The Union Minister asked KPTCL to take up the necessary works following the electrification of this railway line as Railways plan to operate Vande Bharat Express Train on Hubballi-Bengaluru line by March 2023.
Union Coal, Mining and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi,MP S.Muniswamy, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) and Development Commissioner ISN Prasad,Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary N.Manjunath Prasad, ACS (Infrastructure development) Gaurav Gupta and South Western Railway General Manager Sanjiv Kishore and others were present.
