Shivamogga: “Another train will be added to the Renuguntta-Shivamogga route from January 9,” said parliamentarian B Y Raghavendra.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, January 7, he said, “The schedule of the rail service will be out soon. There was a delay because of some confusion in the schedule, which will be set right at the earliest. The train service between Shikaripura and Ranebennur was announced by me in the year 2009. An amount will be earmarked for this purpose in the upcoming Union Budget. The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 994 crores. The responsibility of acquiring land in Davangere, Shivamogga and Haveri has been given to the KIDB. As the officials has already been apoointed for this, the process will begin in the next three to four months.”
“For the railway coaching depot, Rs 62 crores has been allotted for the year 2019-20. The DPR is ready but currently, the estimation has crossed Rs 100 crores. The inspection for this has been carried out at Kote Ganguru and Talguppa. To establish a coaching depot at Kote Ganguru, a report has already been submitted to the Centre. Nearly, 16 acres of land is required at Kote Ganguru for this purpose. According to the requirements, an additional 10 acres of land are required. The work is currently underway. The main intention is to have a safe and clean rail service. Once the trains reach the 3,500 km mark, reservice will be done. In the coming days, for the Talguppa-Hubbali rail line, necessary funds will be requested from the Centre. Already, an approval for Rs 79 lakhs has been given, but the issue of connecting it with the Konkan Rail persisits. However, hopes are still high,” he added.
Further speaking, BYR said, “The old track at Kudremukh has remained the same. A discussion on travel from Kudremukh to Mangaluru through Sringeri should be held. The construction of a railway overbridge is underway at a cost of Rs 30-40 crores. It will be 600 meters long. The project is being initiated in the railway property. The overbridge will begin from Guddekal and end at the Mahadevi cinema theatre. The overbridges will also be made at Savalanga, Kashipur Gate Crossing and Kadadakatte. Two acres of land have been allotted for this purpose and Rs 2 crores has been sanctioned to the railway department as compendation, as the project was withheld by the department. They will also be given an alternative place. A ring road worth of Rs 12 crores will be constructed.”
Speaking about the Shivamogga airport, he said, “The Shivamogga Airport runway was earlier 1200 meters and now it has been extended to 2200 meters. RITES Limited, which is reponsible for the maintenance of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, has taken the responsibility of this airport as well. A DPR is in the process. The project was supposed to be handled by L&T, however, they said that they do not take up small projects and hence, it was given to RITES. Initially, the project was estimated to cost Rs 40 crores, but it has now reached Rs 130 crores.”
About the road projects, he said, “The road widening from Sagar to Tuppur is being carried out at a cost of Rs 12 crores. From Naguri till the city it costs Rs 8 crores, Sigandur bridge costs Rs 4.5 crores and Hosanagar-Battemallapur-Ranebennur costs Rs 8 crores. Road widening between Shivamogga-Karehalli-Srirampur will be carried out on land of about 32 acres. One month’s time will be requested to include 15 villages in the land acquisition. Already, Rs 96 crores has been spent in this regard.”
