BIJAPUR: General Secretary of Bijapur-Gadag Broadgauge Horata Samiti Vishwanath Bhavi urged the State Government here on Tuesday to release Rs. 36.6 crores, which is its share, towards the gauge conversion project.

Addressing a press conference Mr. Bhavi, who successfully fought public interest litigation in the Karnataka High Court, said he will be forced to consider filing Contempt of Court proceedings against the State Government and the Indian Railways if they fail to complete gauge conversion in the given time complying with the court direction.

After accepting the joint memo filed by the State Government and the South Western Railway (SWR), the Bench comprising Chief Justice N.K. Sodhi and Justice N. Kumar disposed off the case on September 21.

The State Government promised to release within current financial year the balance sum of Rs. 36.6 crores, which is its share in the project cost with regard to gauge conversion work on Bijapur-Bagalkot section (98 km). Authorities of SWR said the gauge conversion in the Bijapur-Bagalkot section will be completed by March 31, 2006, and train services will commence by June 30, 2006.

With regard to the Bagalkot-Gadag section (94 km), the State Government and SWR jointly stated they will shortly hold a discussion to sort out the issue of sharing cost escalation. While observing that the route will not be of much use unless the gauge conversion is through, the Bench directed them to complete the work expeditiously.

However, Mr. Bhavi said little had been done so far. There is no information to suggest that State released at least part of promised Rs. 36.6 crores. He said, as per his knowledge, representatives of the State Government and SWR had not yet held a discussion on cost escalation issue related to the Bagalkot-Gadag section. If current pace of progress continued, they will not be able to complete the work within the given time, he said.

Mr. Bhavi said a committee consisting legal and technical experts will be formed shortly to monitor the progress of work. Struggle for gauge conversion will continue till the entire stretch between Bijapur and Gadag is completed, he said. To a query, he said the State Government released Rs. 22.8 crores in two instalments before filing a joint memo with the Railways, but the amount is not part of the balance sum of Rs. 36.6 crores.

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