HUBLI: The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Hubli, has termed the Railway Budget "disappointing for Karnataka" as no railway project of the State has received adequate allocations.

In a release here, KCCI president Shankranna Munavalli said although Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had announced benefits for commuters by way of better amenities and reduction in passenger fares, he neglected Karnataka while allocating funds for the ongoing projects.

The Railway Minister had not mentioned anything about the Hubli-Ankola railway line, work on which had been stalled pending clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. There was also no mention about the Pune-Bangalore double line, push-pull train between Hubli and Davangere and development of railway stations in the State, he said.

`Partisan attitude'

Several projects related to Karnataka remained on paper, which clearly highlighted the apathy of the Railway Ministry and its partisan attitude, Mr. Munavalli said.

Work on the railway line up to Gadag, which should have been converted to broad gauge by December 2000, was still going on at a snail's pace. A double line between Hospet and Torangallu would have helped in brisk iron ore transport. All these proposals were not considered by the Ministry, he said.

Land acquisition

Mr. Munavalli said land acquisition for the Gulbarga- Bidar railway line, the foundation stone for which was laid in 1999, was yet to be completed.

The railway projects, especially those related to Hyderabad-Karnataka, were not given due importance in the Railway Budget, he said.

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