TO MEET DEADLINE: Packing machine being used to link track crossings for Bijapur-Bagalkot broad gauge line at Railway Station in Bijapur.

BIJAPUR: Bound by court directive, the South Western Railway has speeded up gauge conversion work on Bijapur-Bagalkot section of Sholapur-Gadag line.

As per the order of the High Court on a public interest litigation filed by city-based merchant Vishwanath Bhavi, who is also the secretary of Bijapur Broad Gauge Horata Samiti, the SWR has to complete the broad gauge up to Bagalkot by the end of June. The State Government, which has signed a joint venture agreement with the Railways for execution of the project, has to bear the cost equally by releasing its share in time. Of the nearly 100-km length of Bijapur-Bagalkot section, a 45-km track between Bijapur and Telgi Station (Basavanabagewadi) is almost ready. Installation of signals has already begun.

Trial run soon

Two automatic packing machines have been pressed into service to speed up the work. According to sources in the SWR construction wing, broad gauge track between Bijapur and Telgi is practically ready and a trial run is expected some time next month.

Also on the Telgi and Bagalkot section, they say, work is progressing at a fast pace. Laying of sleepers and rails is in an advanced stage. On some section, track linking, especially fixing rail clips, has begun.

Transporting of ballast materials required for packing is going on briskly. Everything is being done to meet the court deadline, they assert.

However, no progress has been made on gauge conversion on the Bagalkot-Gadag section, thanks to poor availability of funds, slow progress on Holealur Bridge and escalated cost.

Undertaking

The Railways and the State Government have also given undertaking to the High Court that they would expedite the gauge conversion on the Bagalkot-Gadag section once the line is cleared up to Bagalkot. In fact, they have some differences over sharing of cost on the section but promised the court to sort it out through dialogue.

Initially, cost of the Sholapur-Gadag gauge conversion project was estimated at Rs. 274 crore but the revised cost has crossed Rs. 370 crore, according to Saibaba, Deputy Chief Engineer (Construction), SWR.

He told The Hindu that the revised estimate was sent to Railway Board for approval. As per the revised estimate, the State Government has to make available Rs. 50 crore more. As per the earlier estimate, the State was to give Rs. 79 crore.

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