State gets Rs 2,000 crore, 11 trains; survey on 5 lines

Despite financial constraints, Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday gave a bounty to Karnataka by announcing new trains and lines besides allocating Rs 2,000 crore, the highest in history, for ongoing projects. Of the 50 new trains announced in the budget, 11 originate from Karnataka. Announcing a high-speed train on the Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai route, the minister explained that though a Shatabdi train runs on the route at an average speed of 100-120 km per hour, the new 160-200 kmph train further reduces the duration of the journey. Gowda has also tried to fulfill the long-standing demands of the State by announcing daily trains between Bangalore-Mangalore, Bangalore-Nelamangala and Dharwad-Dandeli. The other gifts include the premium train between Bangalore and Kamakhya in Assam, a weekly express train from Tatanagar in Jharkhand to Baiyyappanahalli and an express train from Bidar to Mumbai. Of the 18 surveys for new lines announced by the minister, five connect different places in the state. A survey will also be taken up for doubling of Mangalore-Ullal-Surathkal track. For the first time in its history, Karnataka would get Rs 1,500 crore in 2014-2015 for the ongoing projects. The State government has to give the remaining Rs 500 crore as per the cost-sharing agreement with the Railways, Gowda said. To complete the ongoing projects, a total Rs 7,923.98 crore is required. Earlier, the State used to get around Rs 600 crore every year.   Deccan Herald