Bangalore, February 26,2013:
Proposed introduction of Bangalore-Mangalore Express (Weekly), opening of an executive lounge here and resumption of work of Chickmagalur-Sakleshpur and Bangalore-Satyamangalam new line projects were some of the key highlights of the Railway budget as far as Karnataka is concerned.
Other special express trains proposed include Hubli-Mumbai (weekly) via Miraj and Pune, Jabalpur-Yeswantpur (weekly) via Nagpur and Dharmavaram, Madgaon-Mangalore Intercity (daily) via Udupi and Karwar, Mangalore-Kachiguda (weekly) via Dhone, Gooty, Renigunta and Coimbatore, Nagarcoil
Bangalore (daily) via Madurai and Tiruchirappalli, Yeswantpur-Lucknow (weekly) via Rae Bareli and Pratapgarh and Patliputra (Patna) – Bangalore Express (Weekly) Via Chheoki.
New proposed passenger trains are: Marikuppam-Bangalore (daily) and Talguppa-Shimoga Town Passenger (daily).
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, presenting the budget in the Lok Sabha, also announced that executive lounge would be opened in seven stations, including Bangalore.
He announced resumption of work on new line projects of Chickballapur-Sakleshpur and Bangalore-Satyamangalam, which were pending for want of resources and other mandatory clearances, after Karnataka government agreed to give land free of cost and bear 50 per cent of cost.
Bansal announced setting up skill-development centres (to impart skills to the youth in railway-related trades) in 25 locations, including in Mangalore.
He also announced taking up new line — Chickballapur-Gowribidanur, Chickballapur-Puttaparthy-Sri
Satya Sai Nilayam, Gadag-Wadi and Srinivasapura-Madanapalli, adding surveys proposed in 2013-14 include Tumkur-Maddur-Malavalli and Tumkur-Arsikere (doubling) and Shoranur-Mangalore 3rd Line.
New DEMU services announced included Bhatkal–Thokur. The extension of trains included 17307/17308 Bagalkot-Yesvantpur Express to Mysore; 12577/12578 Darbhanga-Bangalore Express to Mysore; 16591/16592 Hubli-Bangalore Express to Mysore; 12653/12654 Mangalore –Tiruchchirappalli Express to Puducherry; 16535/16536 Solapur-Yesvantpur Express to Mysore; 12629/12630 Yesvantpur – Hazrat Nizamuddun Sampark Kranti Express 2 days to Chandigarh and 56275/56276 Mysore-Shimoga Town Passenger to Talguppa.
Increase in frequency included 12629/12630 Yesvantpur – Hazrat Nizamuddun Sampark Kranti Express from 2 to 4 days; and 56221/56222/56525/56526 Bangalore-Tumkur passenger from six to seven days.
