Construction work on the Mysore-Madikeri broad gauge railway line will begin in the next six months, according to K.H. Muniyappa.

The Union Minister of State for Railways on Thursday said that the proposed line will be taken up on 50:50 cost-sharing basis with the Karnataka Government at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore.

He said the 90-km Mysore-Kushalnagar stretch on this line is expected to be completed in five years. “It will be a proud moment for the people of Coorg as this project will put the district on the railway map of India for the first time,” he said.

The Railways has taken up several projects on cost-sharing basis in Karnataka to achieve the twin objectives of connectivity to hinterland and economic growth of backward areas.

The cost-sharing projects with an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore are in progress in the State. Of this, Rs 3,600 crore is being shared by the State Government, he said.

In order to improve railway infrastructure in Karnataka, Rs 15,623 crore has been sanctioned for new lines and track doubling in the last three years. This includes 356 km of new lines, and 568 km of track doubling, he said.

Emphasis is also given on the timely completion of these projects. In the last three years, projects worth Rs 1,213 crore have been completed. This includes 46 km of new lines, 97 km of gauge conversion, and 107 km of track doubling, he said.

Newly laid Kadur-Chikmagalur broad gauge line, a part of the Kadur-Chikmagalur-Belur-Sakleshpur project, is in its final stages of completion and will be commissioned later this year. The doubling work on Birur-Shivani is expected to be completed during the current fiscal, he said.

Other important projects such as Hassan-Bangalore (via Shravanabelagola), Tumkur-Rayadurg and Kolar-Chikballapur, and the track doubling work on Ramanagar-Mysore are being pushed on fast track to meet the deadline set for completion, Muniyappa added.

source: http://www.infrawindow.com / Home> News / Infrawindow News Bureau, Mangalore / October 20th, 2012