Karnataka   

Two railway stations will be made world class: Muniyappa

Checking: Union Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa inspecting the work on the underpass in Davangere on Thursday.

DAVANGERE: Union Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa has said the railway stations in Bangalore and Mangalore will be made “world class” and over 29 railway stations will be made “model” stations in the State in the next few years. A committee has been formed to work out modalities for the construction of these railway stations.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Mr. Muniyappa said a shopping complex, restrooms and other facilities would be provided at the stations.

He said that the Government wanted to involve private parties in laying new railway lines and constructing railway stations.

Mr. Muniyappa said that the Railways had been dogged by funds shortage. Hence the Government had invited private parties to be a part of the new projects. The Government would contribute 20 per cent of the total cost of the project while the private parties would contribute the remaining 80 per cent and complete the project. Ways of repaying the private parties was being worked out, he said.

To a question, Mr. Muniyappa said that the Union Government was actively considering laying a direct railway line between Davangere and Bangalore via Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Sira and Tumkur. He said that if the State Government contributed half of the total project cost, the Railways would take up the project next year.

Shamanur Shivashankarappa, MLA; Abdul Jabbar, president of the Davangere Congress Committee and Anjaneya, Congress leader, were present.

Earlier, the Minister inspected the work on the underpass near the Davangere Cotton Mills.

Mr. Muniyappa expressed disappointment with the manner in which the railway underpass was being constructed. He instructed the officials to construct the bridge in such a way that the railway track would be straight.

The Minister suggested that certain portions of the underpass be dismantled and modified to ensure that accidents did not occur. He criticised the officials’ lack of common sense and said that accidents occurred because of defective design, engineering and construction.

The Minister said that he would release the funds needed to modify the bridge.

The Minister also visited the level-crossing near Ashok cinema and said an underpass would be constructed there to ease traffic. He said that if either the Government or the Davangere City Corporation deposited half the total cost of constructing the underpass, the Railways would complete the work within a year. He suggested that the corporation write a letter to the Railways requesting it to construct an underpass and in turn the Railways would prepare an estimate for the work.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Muniyappa took part in a mass marriage organised by Sri Gururamadasa Adyathma Mandira Trust.

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