States mega rail projects to take off by 2016

BANGALORE: K H Muniyappa, Minister of State for Railways, said here on Friday that the 12 mega railway projects in the state will be implemented on cost-sharing basis with the state government, to be completed by 2016.He told reporters after inaugurating the Bangalore- Mysore Rajya Rani Express at the City Railway Station that the Ministry is aware of the cost escalating of all the mega projects and the consequences if they get delayed.The new Kadapa-Mulbagal- Bangarpet train has already started from Kadapa and will start its maiden journey from Bangarpet by Monday, he informed.The Centre is also considering 12 ambitious projects in the state such as Solapur- Gadag and Kolar-Chikaballapur gauge conversions; Arsikere-Birur track doubling and new lines between Bidar- Gulbarga; Munirabad- Mehaboobnagar; Hassan- Bangalore; Kadur- Chikmaglur; Shimoga- Harihar; Whitefield- Kolar; Davanagere- Tumkur; Kudchi- Bagalkot and Tumkur-Rayadurga.The Minister noted that of 62 new passenger services which are part of 312 services proposed in the 2011-12 Railway Budget, 22 are being started in the state.Service to KarwarOn the High Court directive to extend the Yeshwantpur- Mangalore night train service to Karwar, Muniyappa said the South Western Railway General Manager is yet to submit a proposal report on the requirement, without which further action cannot be taken.The Minister indicated that the High Court direction will be taken into consideration.“Due to technical difficulties in extending the night train service to Karwar, the Railways has granted daily train service from Yeshwantpur via Mangalore to Karwar,” he said. The Minister added that the Mumbai CST-Karwar Express will be extended to Mangalore and will be a daily service.