Railway users from Bijapur have urged Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge to implement railway projects pertaining to Karnataka on priority basis and also announce new trains for the State.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, president of the Railway Development Agitation Committee Kutubuddin Kaji, president of the Bijapur Railway Action Committee Vishwanath Bhavi, and vice-president Ashok D. Hallur and others complained that several railway projects of Karnataka had been pending for a long time, due to lack of political will.
Mr. Kaji said that although the State had come forward to share 50 per cent of the new railway projects, because of “official apathy” several State railway projects remained pending.
Although the 141-km-long Kudachi-Bagalkot rail project was initiated three years ago, till date only 15 km of rail line has been laid. He demanded that the work be expedited and the line be extended till Raichur. Mr. Kaji also wanted daily trains running to New Delhi and Mumbai via Gadag, Bagalkot, Bijapur and Solapur.
Mr. Bhavi and Mr. Hallur alleged that Mr. Kharge was only fulfilling demands of those regions represented by Congress MPs and was overlooking long-pending demands from other regions.
They later submitted a memorandum with their demands to authorities of the South Western Railway.
