Finally, nod for Bangalore-Hassan rail line

mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, Nov 11, 2013 DHNS: The decks have been cleared for the much-delayed Bangalore-Hassan new broad gauge rail line, with the State government deciding to stick to the original alignment and approving the tracks to pass through Kunigal Stud Farm.

Work on the new line could not be taken up as the proposal was to lay the railway track  through the 350-acre historic stud farm, which became a bone of contention.

 

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Monday, Minister of State for Information and Infrastructure Santosh Lad said a decision to retain the original alignment that would pass through farm for a length of 1.05 km was taken at a high-level meeting recently. The meeting was chaired by the principal secretary of the infrastructure development department and had the concurrence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The railway line will divide the farm in the ratio of 64:36.

The 166-km Hassan-Bangalore line via Shravanabelagola, costing Rs 413 crore, was announced in 2006 when Lalu Prasad was railway minister.

Lad said the alternative route, taking a detour around the farm, would have inconvenienced the farmers whose land would have to be acquired.

While those who breed horses at the farm, including industrialist Vijay Mallya, wanted the alignment changed to protect the farm, nearby farmers protested, stating that any change would result in they losing their land. A tunnel below the farm was also suggested, but not implemented.

The government has communicated its decision to the chief administrative officer (construction), South Western Railways, and work on the project is expected to start soon.

Lad said the government was ready to release its share of Rs 650 crore for various railway projects in the state as and when sought by the Railways.

The Railways has laid an average of about 100 km of new line a year in the State. However, it had agreed to lay about 200 km of new lines in the state this fiscal, following the directions of Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge, said Lad