BANGALORE: A major hurdle coming in the way of Rs. 1,000-crore Hubli-Ankola new railway line project has been cleared with the much-awaited joint survey of the forest area in Dharwad and Uttar Kannada districts having been completed.

South Western Railway (SWR) and the Forest Department completed a joint survey of the forest land coming in the proposed Hubli-Ankola railway line in the first week of July, according to general manager of SWR Trilok Nath Perti.

Talking to presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Perti said SWR and the Forest Department did a foot survey of 700 hectares of forest land.

"Marking of mile stones was done. The Forest Department will prepare a report about the number of trees that need to cut down. We are awaiting a report from them," he said.

Landslides in some sections of the track between Hassan and Mangalore were affecting the work of reading the track for movement of passenger trains. "There were 14 landslides last year and three this year," he said..

On the Bangalore-Mysore track doubling work, Mr. Perti said the Railways would complete the work till Kengeri this year and till Ramanagaram next year.

The project would be completed by 2007-08.

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