Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, June 30: A quadruple railway line between Mangaluru and Bengaluru is on the cards as part of an ambitious plan to strengthen rail connectivity across Karnataka, union minister of state for Railways V Somanna announced on Monday.
He said cities within a 100-km radius of Bengaluru would also be connected through quadruple railway lines. Somanna made the announcement after inaugurating a newly constructed road overbridge near Yelekeri in Channapatna taluk.
Karnataka's infrastructure development minister M B Patil urged the Railways to develop quadruple railway lines connecting Bengaluru with Tumakuru, Mysuru, Hindupur via Gauribidanur and Kolar.
He also proposed a parallel road and railway corridor between Sakleshpura and Gundya to improve connectivity to the coastal region.
Responding to the proposals, Somanna agreed that a quadruple railway line between Bengaluru and Mangaluru was necessary and said the Centre was committed to expanding rail infrastructure across the state.
He further said the survey for the Bengaluru-Tumakuru quadruple railway line had been completed and that the tendering process would begin shortly. The project is expected to be completed within two years. He also announced that a survey would be undertaken for the proposed Bengaluru-Mysuru quadruple railway line.
Somanna said a direct rail link between Bengaluru and Kolar would be established by extending the existing four-track railway line beyond Whitefield, with the Railways bearing the cost of land acquisition.
The union minister also assured that the demand for doubling the Tumakuru-Chitradurga-Davangere railway line would be taken up for consideration.
Responding to another request from Patil, Somanna said a Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Vijayapura was expected to commence within the next four months. He added that the special train currently operating twice a week between Bengaluru and Vijayapura would be converted into a permanent service, while minor issues affecting the route would also be addressed.
Earlier, on their way to Channapatna, Somanna and Patil inspected the ongoing construction of the railway underbridge at Ramohalli near Kumbalgodu.