Karnataka - Mangalore   

‘Southern Railway has under-utilised funds'

MANGALORE: Southern Railway has spent only Rs. 43.78 lakh of the allocated Rs. 15 crore during 2009-10 for doubling the railway line between Mangalore Junction (Kanakandy) and Panambur.

Besides bringing down the journey time between Surathkal and the city, the project, when completed, was expected to boost economic activity of the region with New Mangalore Port being located close to this line.

The information regarding under utilisation of funds allocated was provided to the Puttur-based Railway Yathrikara Sangha by the Railways, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act.

The Southern Railway's reply, sent to the sangha's convenor Dinesh K. Bhat, said, “Some of the civil works like earthwork …started between 18th km and 19th km and excavation of minor bridge no. 33 were taken up” and that the total amount utilised for them was Rs. 43.78 lakh.

It also said that the Railways had allocated Rs. 10 crore for the project during Rs. 2010-11 and that the doubling would need an estimated Rs. 147 crore for completion.

To a question on whether it had received any representation from members of Parliament from Karnataka regarding this project, the Railways replied in the negative.

Mr. Bhat, who had sent a copy of the letter he received from the Southern Railway in response to his RTI application to the President of Canara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Srinivas S. Kamath, urged him to take appropriate steps so that people' representatives and Union Government responded to the aspirations of the people in this regard.

Pointing out that this section of the railways had been yielding high revenue to the Southern Railway, Mr. Bhat said that the track doubling would augur well for the development of the region. When the project gets completed, a new railway station would come up at Jokatte, close to the Mangalore Airport, he said. Besides, the journey time between Surathkal and Mangalore would also come down, he added.

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