The Hindu : AIJD to protest delay in completion of rail project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

AIJD to protest delay in completion of rail project

By Our Staff Correspondent

Raichur June 19. The Secretary-General of the All-India Janata Dal (AIJD), Basavaraj Rayareddy, said on Wednesday that his party would stage taluk-level rallies in Koppal and Raichur districts in July to protest against the failure of the State Government in getting the Munirabad-Mahbubnagar railway line project completed.

He told presspersons here that the 246-km. railway line was sanctioned during 1997-98 at an estimated cost of Rs. 421 crore. A sum of Rs. 10 crore was allocated in this year's budget for the project.

A total of Rs. 30 crore had been spent on land acquisition, construction of a bridge across the Krishna, and other works related to the project.

However, the progress of work was slow due to the poor allocation.

He said that it was an important project for north Karnataka. On completion, it would reduce the distance between Goa and Hyderabad via Hubli, Koppal, and Raichur. The 190-km. line between Koppal and Raichur would provide railway connectivity to many places in Bellary, Koppal, Gulbarga, Bidar, Gadag, Dharwad, and Raichur districts, and Mahbubnagar District in Andhra Pradesh. It would provide a direct link between Goa and Hyderabad via Hubli.

The new line would also help transport goods in the region.

Mr. Rayareddy said the Railway Ministry had asked the State Government to enter into an agreement with it on sharing the cost of the project and its speedy implementation. Last year, his party submitted a memorandum to the Government urging the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, to initiate action for the speedy implementation of the project. However, the Government had neglected the project.

He alleged that the Chief Minister was neglecting north Karnataka, especially the Hyderabad Karnataka region, in terms of development.

The AIJD had decided to launch agitations in all taluks of Koppal and Raichur districts to create awareness among the people about the importance of the project.

He urged the Chief Minister to take steps to sign an agreement with the Railway Ministry and appoint a special officer for land acquisition in Koppal and Raichur districts at the earliest.

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