Seven State highways to be upgraded as NH

 The Union Ministry of Surface Transport has said that 1,668.03-km stretch of seven State highways in Karnataka will be upgraded to national highways.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would award the contracts and the work would commence soon.

Service roads

Minister for Public Works Department H.C. Mahadevappa told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Union Ministry of Surface Transport took the decision at a meeting on March 4, 2014. The NHAI had been told to develop service roads in the nearby towns for the convenience of local residents.

Project reports

Land would be acquired and compensation paid to the families concerned in accordance with the new land acquisition law passed by the Union government. The NHAI would prepare detailed project reports and workout the cost of upgrading each road, he said.

The seven State Highways to be upgraded to national highways are: new NH 161 – Nanded Road in Maharashtra connecting Bidar, Humnabad, Gulbarga, Jewargi, Bijapur, Hospet and connecting NH 48 near Lakshmisagar (260.81 km); new NH 50 – Jewargi-Siruguppa-Bellary-Hiriyur-Chikkanayakanahalli-Nagamangala-Srirangapatna-Mysore- Nanjangud (618.62 km); NH 73 – Mudigere-Chikmagalur-Kadur (72 km); NH 75 – Bantwal-Puttur-Sullia-Madikeri-Periyapatna-Mysore-Srirangapatna -Mandya-Ramanagaram-Bangalore (367.46 km); NH 67 – Bhanapur-Kukkunur-Yelburga-Gajendragad-Badami-Guledagudda-Bagalkot- Gadankeri (156.62 km); NH 50 – Gulbarga-Chowdapur-Afzalpur-Solapur (Maharashtra) (104.80 km) and NH 169 – Tirthahalli- Agumbe-Hebri-Udupi (87.60 km).

The Minister said the State government urged the NHAI to upgrade a stretch of 203 km between Tumkur and Shimoga to a four-lane road, at a meeting held in New Delhi on May 5.

The NHAI was also advised to upgrade four roads to national highways. They are Mysore-Bannur-Malavalli (45 km), Khanapur-Talaguppa-Bhatkal (296 km), Belgaum-Bagalkot-Raichur- Mahbubnagar and Sankeshwar-Gokak-Yaragatti-Jagalur (335 km). 

Work on Tumkur-Shimoga road widening to begin soon

The work on widening the Tumkur-Shimoga stretch of National Highway 206 into four-lane will begin soon, Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa has said.

“The project cost for widening this 185-km stretch is estimated to be Rs. 1,500 crore. The Union government has agreed to release funds. It work will be implemented on engineering, procurement and construction basis,” he told presspersons here on Wednesday.

Similarly, the Chitradurga-Shimoga stretch of National Highway 13 would be widened into two-lane. An amount of Rs. 326 crore would be spent for widening this 140 km stretch. Tenders had been floated and the government had issued the work order, he said.

The Union government had agreed to upgrade the State highway connecting Tirthahalli town and Udupi via Agumbe ghat into a national highway. The width of this road would be increased from 5.5 metre to 10 metre.

“The work is estimated to cost Rs. 1,454 crore,” he said.

Karnataka received Rs. 1,000 crore under Central Road Fund this year. It would be used for maintenance of 2,000 km of roads, he said.

The State government had earmarked Rs. 2,400 crore for the Karnataka State Highway Development Project (KSHDP).

The first phase of widening and upgrading of 1,234 km roads under KSHDP would be completed soon. Another 4,000 km roads would be upgraded in the second phase, he said.

ಬದಲಾಗದ ತುಮಕೂರು ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದ ಚಿತ್ರ

ತುಮಕೂರು: ನಗರದ ರೈಲು ಚಿತ್ರಣ ಬದಲಾಗು­ವಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ವನವಾಸ ಇನ್ನೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆದಿದೆ. ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ನಗರದ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದ ಚಹರೆಯೇ ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಹೋಯಿತು ಎಂದು  ಪ್ರಯಾ­ಣಿಕರು ಕನಸು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದರು. ಆದರೆ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಕನಸು ಕನಸಾಗಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದಿದೆ.
ನಗರ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣವನ್ನು ಮೇಲ್ದರ್ಜೆಗೇರಿಸ­ಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಜನರ ಒತ್ತಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಬಿಡಿಗಾಸಿನ ಬೆಲೆ ನೀಡಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ನೋಡಿ­ದರೆ ವೇದ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಂಸದ ಜಿ.ಎಸ್‌.­ಬಸವರಾಜ್‌ ಕೂಡ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಪಡಿಸ­ಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಸಚಿವರಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆ­ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆದರೂ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾತ್ರ ವೇಗ ಪಡೆದು­ಕೊಂಡಿಲ್ಲ.
ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಮೂಲ ಸೌಕರ್ಯ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಂದ ನರಳುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಗ್ರಾಮಾಂತರ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ­ದಲ್ಲಿರು­ವಂತಹ ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯ ಇಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲವಾಗಿದೆ. ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ­ದಲ್ಲಿ ರೈಲುಗಳು ನಿಂತಾಗ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಶೌಚಾ­ಲಯ ಬಳಕೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಈ ರೈಲು ಹಳಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ವಚ್ಛತೆ ಮಾಡುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯೇ ಇಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲವಾದ್ದರಿಂದ ಗಬ್ಬು ನಾರುತ್ತಿದೆ.
ಗೂಡ್ಸ್ ಶೆಡ್‌ ಅನ್ನು  ಕ್ಯಾತ್ಸಂದ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಿಸ­ಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ 12 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ಇದೆ. ಈಗ ಈ ಕೆಲಸ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆಯಾದರೂ ಆಮೆಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.  ಇನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಯಾವಾಗ ಎಂಬುದು ಯಕ್ಷ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯಾಗಿದೆ.
ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ಗೃಹಕ್ಕೂ ಬೀಗ ಜಡಿಯುವ ಕಾರಣ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ಇದ್ದು ಇಲ್ಲದಂತಾಗಿದೆ. ರಾತ್ರಿ ವೇಳೆ ತಂಗಲು ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ವಸತಿ ಕೊಠಡಿ ಇದೆ­ಯಾದರೂ ಇದು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನಕ್ಕೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ದೂರುತ್ತಾರೆ.
ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಟಿಕೆಟ್‌ ಕೌಂಟರ್‌ ತೆರೆಯುವ ಕಾರಣ ಟಿಕೆಟ್‌ ಪಡೆಯಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಹರ­ಸಾಹಸ ಪಡಬೇಕಿದೆ. ಎಷ್ಟೋ ವೇಳೆ ಟಿಕೆಟ್‌ ಕೊಳ್ಳುವಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ರೈಲುಗಾಡಿಗಳು ಚಲಿಸಿ ವಾಪಸ್‌ ಬರುವಂತಹ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶವೂ ಇದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ಅಳಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ವಿಚಾರಣೆ ಕೌಂಟರ್‌ಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಲೆಯೇ ಇಲ್ಲವಾಗಿದೆ. ಯಾವ ಟ್ರೈನ್‌ ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ, ಟಿಕೆಟ್‌ ದರ ಮತ್ತಿತರ ಮಾಹಿತಿ­ಯನ್ನೇ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಕೊಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕ­ರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೌಜನ್ಯದ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ ತೋರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕೆಂದರೆ ದಿಗಿಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಔಷಧಿ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಿಗಳ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಜವಹರ್‌ ದೂರಿದರು.
ರೈಲುಗಳು ಸರಿಯಾದ  ಸಮಯ ಪರಿಪಾಲನೆ ಕೂಡ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಸಮಯ ಆಚೀಚೆ ಆದಾಗ ಆ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನೀಡದ ಕಾರಣ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಪರದಾಟ ಹೇಳತೀರದಾಗಿದೆ.
ರಾಜ್ಯದ 19 ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಿಗೆ ನಗರ ಹೆಬ್ಬಾಗಿಲು ಕೂಡ ಆಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ರೈಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ದಟ್ಟಣೆ ಕೂಡ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗೆ ಅನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಿಲ್ಲ. ಕನಿಷ್ಠ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರು ಸಹ ಇಲ್ಲವಾಗಿದೆ. ನಲ್ಲಿಗಳು ಕೆಟ್ಟು ನಿಂತಿರುವುದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ.
ಗೂಡ್ಸ್‌ಶೆಡ್‌ ಕಾಲೊನಿ ಕೂಡಲೇ ಸ್ಥಳಾಂತರಿಸ­ಬೇಕು. ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಿಮೆಂಟ್ ಮತ್ತಿತರ ಸಾಮಗ್ರಿಗಳು ಬಂದಾಗ ಇಡೀ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ದೂಳಿನಿಂದ ಕೂಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಗ ನಿಲ್ಲಲೂ ಕೂಡ ಸಾಧ್ಯ­ವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಶೌಚಾಲಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯೂ ಸರಿ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಈ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣವನ್ನು ಇಲಾಖೆ ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿದೆ. ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಮನವಿ ನೀಡಿದರೂ ಅದಕ್ಕೂ ಸ್ಪಂದಿಸಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ತುಮಕೂರು–ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ರೈಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ವೇದಿಕೆಯ ಶಿವು ಹೇಳಿದರು.

Works on new Railway Lines yet to start for want of land in Karnataka

Bangalore (SBC) / Hubli (UBL): The South Western Railway is unable to commence work on two new railway lines that would have reduced railroad distance between important cities in the State, for want of land.

The State government has not handed over even one acre of land for the Tumkur-Rayadurg new line, via Kalyandurg (207 km), that was announced in the 2007-08 Railway budget, and the Tumkur-Davangere new line, via Sira (200 km), announced in the 2011-12 budget, according to sources in the South Western Railway.

The two new lines, if completed, would reduce the distance between Bangalore and Bellary by at least 30 km and between Bangalore and Hubli by 60 km, respectively. Now, trains from Bangalore run via Tumkur, Birur, Chitradurga, Rayadurg (464 km) or via Hindupur and Guntakal (358 km) to Bellary. The distance between Bangalore and Bellary via Tumkur and Rayadurg will be 321 km, the sources said.

Both the projects are taken up on cost sharing basis (50:50) between the Railways and the two State governments, while the State governments have to provide land free. Sources said that 17 km of new line has been laid from Rayadurg in Andhra Pradesh and 9 km would be added by this month-end. Also, work on a major bridge across the Vedavathi in Andhra Pradesh has commenced. However, there has been no physical progress in Karnataka, they added.

The line would also have provided rail connectivity to backward regions in Karnataka — Koratagere, Madhugiri and Pavagada. However, not a single acre of the 1,342 acres of land required for the project in the State has been given to the South Western Railway, the sources said.

Reduced distance

Similar is the case with the Tumkur-Davangere new line. The railroad distance between the two cities is 326 km on the circuitous route via Tumkur, Arsikere and Birur. The proposed line via Sira, Chitradurga and Bharamasagar (along National Highway 4) would just be 265 km.

The railroad distance between Bangalore and Chitradurga, now 312 km, via Birur and Chikjajur, would come down to 205 km. Under this project too, no land has been given to the South Western Railway, while the land required for the project is 2,961 acres. South Western Railway has written letters urging the government to expedite the process of land acquisition, the sources said. Besides these two new lines, work on Whitefield-Kolar (52.9 km); Marikuppam-Kuppam (23.7 km); Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur (47 km) and Hejjala-Chamarajanagar (140 km) new lines and Hosadurga-Chikjajur line doubling has not commenced yet for want of land, the sources added.

• Tumkur-Rayadurg line announced in 2007-08
• Tumkur-Davangere line sanctioned in 2011-12

HAL unit will come up in Gubbi taluk, says MP

A unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will be established at Bidarehallakaval in Gubbi taluk of Tumkur district, according to MP G.S. Basavaraju.

He told presspersons here on Sunday that 772 acres and 7 guntas of government land was available at Bidarehallakaval. The unit would come up at an estimated cost of Rs. 4,000 crore and it was expected to create 3,000 jobs, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner and the Gubbi tahsildar had reviewed records of the government land from 1951.

Mr. Basavaraju said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had discussed implementation of the project with Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the latter had responded positively. He demanded that the State government give approval for the project at the earliest. Mr. Basavaraju demanded that the State government include points related to providing jobs to local people and basic facilities at villages in the vicinity of the proposed unit in the memorandum of understanding to be prepared for the project.

He said HAL must adopt nearby villages and provide basic facilities as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Tumkur, Shimoga, Bijapur now city corporations

 The City Municipal Councils of Tumkur, Shimoga and Bijapur have all been upgraded as city corporations, with Governor H.R. Bhardwaj approving a notification late on Friday.

Earlier proposal

The incumbent government had been planning to upgrade the three city municipal councils into city corporations based on a proposal which was initially mooted by the previous government of Jagadish Shettar.

At a recent meeting of the State Cabinet, Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake had placed the proposal to upgrade the three towns as municipal corporations given the increase in population.

With the addition of the three new municipal corporations, the total number of the corporations in the State will increase to 11. The others are Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Davangere, Bellary, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum.

Special funds

Sources in the State government told The Hindu that with the upgrading, Shimoga, Tumkur and Bijapur will stand to benefit in a big way given the fact that the Union government will allocate special funds for their all-round development. Plans are also afoot to develop Tumkur as a satellite town to decongest Bangalore, which is almost 850 sq. km and a population of around 1 crore.