)
The people of Karnataka in general, and those from North Karnataka in particular, expect a bonanza for the region in the Railway Budget set to be presented by D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday.
They had expected a lot from Mallikarjun Kharge when he presented the interim budget in February, but were in for a disappointment as not much came off the budget. However, they had reconciled to the fact that it was only an interim budget.
Kharge, keeping in mind the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, managed to please his vote bank in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region by announcing several new trains to ensure that the region was better connected with south Karnataka, erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, apart from the National Capital of New Delhi.
The main demands from people of North Karnataka included starting new trains from Hubli and Bangalore to Mumbai, converting of the Hubli-Kurla weekly train into a daily train with modified timings, introduction of new trains from Hubli to other centres, expediting the proposal to start a new route between Dharwad and Belgaum via Kittur, and speeding up the work on the doubling of track between Tumkur and Birur, among others.
State BJP president and Dharwad MP Prahlad Joshi has explained to Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda the injustice meted out to Karnataka in railway-related projects. Responding to the plea, Sadanand Gowda said that being an MP from Karnataka he knew the problems and demands of the region very well and would do everything to set things right.
Extension of the Hubli-Kurla Express train up to Dadar and new trains between Hubli and Chennai, Hubli and Mangalore, and night express to Bangalore from Hubli. New line works on the Hubli — Dharwad – Kittur – Belgaum, Haveri – Gadag, Gadag - Harapanhalli Harihar, Harihar – Shimoga, Talaguppa — Honnavar (linking to the Konkan Railway Line) and Davanagere-Tumkur routes are being demanded.
Hubli — Ankola new broad gauge line is a dream project capable of ushering in an era of economic growth for the region.
But none of these were considered in the past and the people are hoping that Sadanand Gowda, who knows the needs of the area, would do justice to the state this time. There have also been a long-standing demand for creating Gulbarga and Mangalore divisions within the SWR.
EXPECTATIONS FROM THE STATE
1. High Speed Trains
a) Bangalore-Mumbai
b) Bangalore-Mysore
c) Bangalore-Mangalore
2. New trains
a) Yeshwanthpur-Karwar daily.
b) Bangalore -Chennai-Ahmedabad
c) Bangalore-Chikkamagalur
d) Bangalore – Chamarajanagar (approved in the previous years budget)
e) Bangalore – Hospet
f) Chamarajanagar – Mettupalayam
g) Bangalore-Mercara
3. Doubling of tracks
a) Bangalore-Mysore – 90 per cent work completed
b) Tumkur-Arasikere
c) Hosadurga-Chikkajajur
4. New lines
a) Bangalore-Hassan via Nelamangala-Kunigal
b) Gadwal-Raichur
c) Chamarajanagar-Satyamangala
d) Belgaum – Hubli
e) Yeshwanthpur- Meeraj via Hubli-Belgaum
f) Yeshwanthpur- Karwar (daily)
g) Bangalore-Shiradi via Raichur
h) Bangalore-Varanasi via Jabalpur.
5. Infrastructure
a) Face lift to railway stations
b) Railway over bridges at Tumkur, Bellary, Hassan,Mandya and Raichur
c) Upgrade of Mangalore into a divisional office
