The Hindu Business Line : Bangalore-Chennai double rail track by this month-end

THE Railways plan to complete some parts of the Hassan-Bangalore rail line this year while the track doubling of the Bangalore-Chennai route would be completed this month itself.

The Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr R. Velu, on Sunday said that the Hassan-Shravanabelogala and Bangalore-Nelamangala part of the Hassan-Bangalore track would be completed this year. Mr Velu, who inaugurated a computerised railway reservation centre here, said that the Bangalore-Chennai double line would be completed this month itself on commissioning of the last stretch of the Bisanatham-Kuppam section.

The Railways also plan to take up the Bangalore-Kengeri double lining, Bijapur-Basavanabagevadi gauge conversion, Hospet-Toranagallu double line this year. Mr Velu said an amount of Rs 4 crore has been allocated for improving the passenger amenities at the Bangalore and Yeshvanthapur stations. He said an integrated call centre would be commissioned shortly.

He said the South Western Railways has already made Sampark Kranthi Express a daily service which was earlier a weekly one. The frequency of the Bangalore-Mumbai Express has also been extended.

The computerised reservation centre at City Market in Bangalore is the first in the area with another expected to come up at the Electronic City shortly. Mr Velu said the Railway Ministry was willing to cooperate with the Bangalore City Corporation to provide better infrastructure and commuting facilities in the State.

In response to Mayor P.R. Ramesh's request for freeing lands belonging to the Railways in certain areas for widening and straightening of roads in the city, Mr Velu said the Railways, too, needed similar help from the Bangalore City Corporation for many of its projects.

A committee, consisting of Railway and Bangalore Corporation officials, had been formed to sort out such issues, he said.

Mr Velu said the Karnataka Government and the Railways had undertaken several railway overbridge projects with equal funding from both the Government as well as the Railways.

He requested the State Government to deposit a total amount of Rs 109 crore as part of the State's contribution to speed up the work and completion of the projects soon.