Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 13: The proposal to merge the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with Indian Railways requires the consent of all four partner states, including Karnataka, Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Speaking to media representatives at Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday night, he shared details about the proposed Konkan Railway merger, doubling of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway line and the introduction of Vande Bharat train services, among other railway-related developments.
Ashwini Vaishnaw arrived at Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday night to flag off the Vande Bharat train service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary welcomed him. The Union minister was accorded a traditional Chende drum welcome at the airport.
Consent of four states essential for Konkan Railway merger
The Union government, along with the state governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra, holds a stake in the Konkan Railway Corporation. Therefore, the consent of all four partner states is essential to take a decision on merging the corporation with Indian Railways.
A request has already been submitted to the respective states in this regard. The merger process will be taken forward after obtaining the consent of the chief ministers of all four states, the minister said.
New design for Mangaluru-Bengaluru ghat railway line doubling
The Union government has also accorded priority to doubling the Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway line. The Final Location Survey (FLS) for the project has been completed, and preparations are currently underway for the Detailed Project Report (DPR), he said.
Constructing a railway line through the difficult geographical terrain of the Western Ghats is a challenging task. Therefore, a new design is being developed for the second track, with a more convenient and moderate gradient, unlike the steep gradients along the existing railway line.
The objective is to avoid the problems posed by steep ascents and descents and make train operations through the ghat section smoother and more convenient, he explained.
Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat service from Friday
The Vande Bharat train service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru will commence on Friday. Connecting coastal Karnataka with the state capital through this service involved overcoming several technical challenges.
In particular, the electrification of the ghat section and the necessary technical modifications to the train have been successfully completed, Vaishnaw said.
He also informed that an FM radio transmitter would be inaugurated in Udupi on the occasion.
Vaishnaw hits back at M B Patil's allegations
Responding to Karnataka Minister M B Patil's allegation that the Union government was discriminating against Karnataka in the allocation of railway projects, Ashwini Vaishnaw dismissed the charge, stating that there was no truth in it.
He said that substantial development has taken place in Karnataka's railway sector since the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power. At present, railway projects worth around Rs 75,000 crore are at various stages of implementation in the state.
The government has been giving priority to major initiatives such as bullet trains, Vande Bharat trains, Vande Bharat sleeper trains and the modernisation of railway stations, he said.
Taking a dig at M B Patil, Vaishnaw asked him to disclose how much railway funding Karnataka had received during the tenure of the UPA government.