14 August 2013

NEW TRAIN BETWEEN MARIKUPPAM AND BANGALORE FLAGGED OFF BY Shri MALLIKARJUN KHARGE UNION MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AT MARIKUPPAM

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of Railways, today(10thAugust, 2013) flagged off a new train between Marikuppam and Bangalore City at Marikuppam Railway Station, in the august Presence ofShri K H Muniyapa, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises.

 Smt. Y Ramakka, MLA, KGF, Shri K M Narayanaswamy, MLA, Bangarpet, Shri Naseer Ahmed, MLC, Shri D.H. Veeraiah, MLC were present o­n the occasion.

 Speaking o­n the occasion, Sri Mallikarjuna Kharge said that the new train between Marikuppam-Bangalore has fulfilled the long time aspiration of the local people.He said, to meet the demands of the people of Kolar Gold Field, DEMUs (Diesel Electrical Multiple Units) and MEMUS (Main Line Electrical Multiple Units) running between Marikuppam and Bangalore City will be replaced o­n first priority by fullfledged trains with 21 coaches, o­n getting new rakes.

 Shri Kharge said, after his taking over as Railway Minister, an additional amount of Rs.300 Crs., has been sanctioned for the Railway Projects in the State, which is 45% more than the amount sanctioned previously to South Western Railway for its projects in the current budget.

 The State Government had promised to provide Rs.271 Cr in the current year for the Railway Projects in the State. During the past four months, ithas released o­nly Rs.30 crores, and balance amount is due. He insisted that the State has to expedite release of its share of money and speed up acquisition of land for faster completion of all pending Railway projects in the state.

Regarding Kolar-Chikballapur Railway Line doubling work, the Minister said there are certain small hurdles that State Government has to clear. If this is done, the project can be commissioned within a record time.

 Shri Kharge said, there are 368 Railway Projects to be cleared in the country out of which 178 are new projects. Rs.1,78,000 Crs.are needed to complete all these projects.He said, instead of announcing new projects, the completion of existing projects will benefit the people and for this, the State Governments and the public should co-operate.He said many of the schemes brought out by the government are for the poor and benefiting all class of people across the country.

Regarding commissioning of new line between Kuppam and Marikuppam, Shri Kharge said, 6 Kms of land has to be given by Karnataka and 13 Kms by Andhra Pradesh.Work can be started if the respective governments give land to railways.

Shri K. H. Muniyappa, Union Minister of State for Micro, Medium and Small Industries said, Supreme Court has up-held the Cabinet Decision of re-starting the Bharat Gold Mines.The decision will benefit thousands of workers.Suitable conditionsto benefit the workers will be incorporated in the Global Tender to be invited for starting the Mine.The highest bidder will be asked to settle the benefits and dues payable for the workers before starting the mine, he said.
He announced to sanction Rs.40 lakhs for opening two new halt stations at Chinna Kote and Khidu Kuda out of which Rs. 20 lakhs will be from his MP fund and 20 lakhs will be from the MLA fund of Shri Naseer Ahmed.

Shri Ashok Kumar Mital, General Manager, South Western Railway welcomed the gathering. Shri Vashishta Johri,Chief Mechanical Engineer, SWR, Shri C.S. Gupta, Deputy General Manager(G)/ SWR, Shri N.S. Sridhara Murthy, Secretary to General Manager, SWR and other senior railway officials and staff were present o­n the occasion. Shri Anil Kumar Agarwal, Divisional Railay Manager, Bangalore proposed the vote of thanks.