BANGALORE: With the State and the Centre deciding to pump in nearly Rs. 470 crores during the current financial year, railway projects in Karnataka are all set to pick up pace.

The Railways is making an investment of over Rs. 370 crores, the biggest allocation in three years. The State Budget has more than doubled its share in railway projects from Rs. 45 crores last year to Rs. 95 crores this year. The projects that will get an impetus with more funds include track doubling between Raichur and Guntakal (which will get Rs. 57 crores), and between Hospet and Guntakal (Rs. 60 crores); gauge conversion between Mysore and Chamarajnagar (Rs. 45 crores), between Hotgi and Gadag (Rs. 20 crores), between Hassan and Mangalore (Rs. 15 crores); and the laying of new lines between Kottur and Harihar (Rs. 35 crores), Hassan and Bangalore via Shravanabelagola (Rs. 31 crores), and between Gadwal and Raichur (Rs. 20 crores). South Central Railway (SCR) will invest Rs. 152 crores this year.

The Railway Ministry is investing Rs. 222 crores in major projects through South Western Railway (SWR). In 2006-07, the Ministry is planning to complete the Hotgi-Gadag line and Bangalore-Kengeri doubling work, which form part of the proposed doubling of Bangalore-Mysore track. On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa proposed an allocation of Rs. 95 crores although major ongoing projects will get only a small portion of it. Karnataka's total allocation is 111 per cent more than the funds earmarked in the last budget.

Mr. Yediyurappa proposed to invest Rs. 25 crores for doubling of track between Ramangar and Mysore. He also proposed to invest Rs. 15 crores on Hassan-Mangalore guage conversion, Rs. 10 crores on new Bidar-Gulbarga railway line, Rs. 30 crores on railway overbridges and underbridges, and Rs. 10 crores on commuter rail services.

South Central Railway is investing Rs. 117 crores on doubling of Raichur-Guntakal and Hospet-Guntakal railway lines.

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