Bengaluru-Mangaluru four-track rail corridor under consideration: Union Minister V Somanna
Speaking at the inauguration of a road overbridge in Bengaluru, Somanna said similar four-track rail corridors will also be developed for cities within a 100 km radius of Bengaluru, according to a statement issued by the state’s industries department.
The announcement came after Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil raised various demands regarding the railway infrastructure in the state. Patil sought four-track railway lines connecting Bengaluru to Tumakuru, Mysuru, Hindupur and Kolar via Gauribidanur.
Somanna, who represents Tumakuru in the Lok Sabha, said that the studies of the Bengaluru-Tumakuru quadrupling project have been completed and the tender process will begin shortly. The project is expected to be completed within 18-24 months.
He added that the Center has also decided to conduct a survey for the proposed Bengaluru-Mysuru four-track railway line.
Responding to Patil’s demand for improving rail connectivity to Kolar, Somanna said a direct rail link will be created by extending the existing four-track railway line beyond Whitefield. He said that the center will undertake the necessary land acquisition for the project.
Patil also suggested providing faster rail connectivity between Bengaluru and the coastal city of Mangaluru and suggested a parallel road and rail corridor between Sakleshpur and Gundya to improve connectivity. Terming the proposal as “constructive”, Somanna said a quadrilateral railway line between Bengaluru and Mangaluru was necessary and would be given priority. He said better rail connectivity to the port city would bring significant economic and logistical benefits.
Somanna also said that work on the Tumakuru-Chitradurga-Davanagere railway line is also progressing rapidly. He added that Patil’s request to double the line on the route will also be considered.
On Patil’s request for Vande Bharat Sleeper service to Vijayapura, Somanna said the train is expected to be launched in the next three to four months. He said the Center is planning to introduce Vande Bharat Sleeper instead of the regular Vande Bharat service and a formal decision will be taken soon.
He also announced that the twice-weekly special train between Bengaluru and Vijayapura will be converted into a permanent service and minor operational issues on the route will be resolved.
Addressing the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru and Pune, Somanna said the demand is justified and efforts will be made to take the project forward as it will connect the country’s IT capital to its financial capital.
Bengaluru Rural MP CN Manjunath, Bengaluru South Deputy Commissioner Yashavantha Gurikar, South Western Railway Chief Administrative Officer AK Gupta, Additional Railway Divisional Director Praveen Katarki, Infrastructure Department Joint Secretary Chandrashekhara and other senior officials attended the programme.
