G.M. Siddeshwar, Davangere MP, on Friday criticised the Union
Government for dilly-dallying on the new broad-gauge railway line between Tumkur
and Davangere via Sira and Chitradurga, even though the State Government had
released its share of Rs. 327 crore for various railway projects.
Mr. Siddeshwar said that since there
was a demand for the new railway line from the people of Tumkur, Chitradurga and
Davangere, MPs from these districts would soon meet Railway Minister
Dinesh Trivedi and Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa and urge them
to speed up the survey and land acquisition process.
Mr. Siddeshwar told presspersons here that the Union Government
had approved the plan to construct the 199.7-km Tumkur-Davangere railway line in
2008, and the primary survey had been carried out the same year. It had
estimated the project cost at Rs. 913 crore and even earmarked Rs. 1 crore for
it in the 2011-12 Railway Budget. But so far no work had been taken up, he said.
He urged the Union Government to start the tender process for the
survey and direct the Deputy Commissioners of the three districts to commence
acquiring the land for the railway line. He said that last month he had met Mr.
Muniyappa and appealed to him to commence the project. The latter had responded
by stating that a meeting of senior railway officials and Chief Minister B.S.
Yeddyurappa would be convened during the last week of July, and steps would be
initiated to commence the project. He urged Mr. Muniyappa to implement the
project immediately. Mr. Siddeshwar urged the Union Government to take up the
construction of the proposed railway line between Harihar and Shimoga on
priority as it would connect north Karnataka with south-interior Karnataka. The
cost of the 78-km Harihar-Shimoga railway line was estimated at Rs. 563 crore,
he said.
