While Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has not announced new trains and projects in the Railway Budget, his focus is on completing ongoing new lines and doubling projects as well as strengthening existing tracks.
Karnataka has got Rs. 1,404 crore for civil works — Rs. 641 crore for ongoing new line projects, Rs. 15 crore for gauge conversion and Rs. 748 crore for line doubling — as against Rs. 1,288 crore allocated in the last budget.
The Minister has also promised to provide another Rs. 1,290 crore to Karnataka from extra-budgetary allocation if the Railways gets additional funds.
Mr. Prabhu appears to be keen on strengthening the existing track network and has allocated over Rs. 26 crore for this, including some busy sections between Bengaluru-Jolarpettai, Bengaluru-Hubballi, Hubballi-Ballari, Bengaluru-Dharmavaram, Bengaluru-Mysuru and Bengaluru-Salem.
