MYSORE: Mysore Lok Sabha MP C.H. Vijayshankar has urged the State Government to earmark funds for doubling of railway track between Mysore and Bangalore in the State Budget 2006-07.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Vijayshankar said that the State Government was to blame for the delay in implementation of the project. "The State Government's lackadaisical attitude towards the doubling of railway track between Mysore and Bangalore has led to the project being dragged on endlessly," he said.

Recalling that the State Government and the Railway Ministry had entered into an agreement to shoulder the cost of the project on a 50:50 basis a couple of years ago, the State Government was not prepared to honour its commitment. "While the Railway Ministry is ready to allocate its share of the funds, the State Government has been dragging its feet," he said.

He urged Finance Minister P.G.R. Sindhia to ensure that adequate funds are allocated in the Budget. He also urged Mr. Sindhia to make the State Government's stand on the matter clear.

The doubling of the railway track between Mysore and Bangalore will benefit not only the two major cities, but also several towns like Mandya, Maddur, Ramanagaram and Channapatna, which fall en route. Even Chamajanagar and Mandya will benefit from the project, he said.

Work on doubling of the railway track between Bangalore and Ramanagaram was suspended midway due to State Government's refusal to put in its share.

Mr. Vijayshankar said the new railway reservation counter will soon be opened at Kuvempunagar for residents of Kuvempunagar and surrounding areas. Work on the new counter at a cost of Rs. 7 lakhs will begin soon, he said adding that funds have been released.

A similar satellite reservation counter will also come up at Siddharthanagar soon, he said. In view of the space crunch at the existing reservation counter on the City Railway station premises, the Mysore Division of South Western Railway is planning to set up satellite counters in different parts of the city. sThe satellite reservation counters will help passengers residing in extension areas of the city reserve tickets without travelling all the way to the railway station, he said.

Mr. Vijayshankar also announced that 102 Government High Schools in Mysore district will receive band-sets under his MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) Fund.

Out of the 127 high schools in Mysore district, Mr. Vijayshankar said only 25 high schools had a band-set. Hence, band-sets will be provided to the remaining at Rs. 5.97 lakhs, he said.

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