HUBLI: T.N. Perti, General Manager of the South Western Railway, on Tuesday ruled out realigning the proposed Hubli-Ankola rail line parallel to the National Highway as had been suggested by the Forest Department.

Replying to questions from presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Perti said the alignment worked out was almost parallel to the National Highway and it could not be so given the requirements of the railways.

About reservations expressed by the Forest Department over the vivisection of forests and the possible man-animal conflict if the alignment were to be as suggested by the Railways, Mr. Perti said he was not sure which brought about vivisection of forests and man-animal conflict — the road or the railways. The South Western Railway had immediately sent a report to the State Government after the recent meeting convened by the Minister S.R. Morey in Hubli.

Mr. Perti said the new line was required to meet the increasing demands of iron ore exports. Asked whether the new line could be completed before there is a decline in the demand, Mr. Perti said that nothing could be said about trends in international market.

Mr. Perti, however, added that exporters of iron ore were keen on the early completion of the new line. Asked whether there was any move to seek financial help from exporters, Mr. Perti said it had not been officially explored. Anyhow it was for the Government to pursue the matter as the Railways could not do on its own. As it was the Railways had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka-Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprise for sharing the expenditure of Rs. 1,000-crore new line project on a 50:50 basis.

Mr. Perti said the South Western Railway had started work on the first 40 km of the line and was waiting for forest clearance for proceeding further, he said. It had spent Rs. 25 crores and the allocation made for this year was Rs. 5 crores, he said.

Mr. Perti said the shifting of the good shed from near the railway station to the land promised by the Government near Amargol midway between Hubli and Dharwad was essential for expanding the Hubli Railway Station. But the issue was pending because of the demand made by the Government for paying Rs. 1.5 crores for the land.

The demand had come as a surprise as the then Chief Minister had offered land free to the Railways (at the time of the inauguration of the zonal headquarters in Hubli).

The South Western Railways had written to the Government to give land free as promised as the proposal sent to the Railway Board was essentially based on the availability of free land.

To a question on conversion of the Solapur-Gadag line beyond Bijapur, he said the Railways had spent in excess of its share and was waiting for release of the Government's share. If only the Government were to release Rs. 10 crores, conversion could be completed up to Bagalkot.

Mr. Perti said the Government owed Rs. 64 crores and taking the budget provisions made for the current year for railway projects being implemented in the State, it worked out to Rs. 250 crores, inclusive of the contribution for the Hubli-Ankola new line.

Khadi, kulhars

About the purchase of khadi for being used as linen in the railways, Mr. Perti said that the purchase to replace the old ones comprised khadi also.

On the use of kulhars for serving beverages as had been ordered by the Union Minister, Lalu Prasad, Mr. Perti said an indent had been made to the contractor but there was no demand. Very few passengers asked for kulhars in this part of the country, he said.

Mr. Perti said the new zonal office of the South Western Railways was being built on Gadag Road. On the report that the land, which consisted of black soil, was unsuitable, Mr. Perti said technology had made progress and that a new diesel shed had come up on the same land.

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