Agencies

Bangalore, Dec 9: Two auto hubs would be established on railway lands in Bangalore and Mangalore, said railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

Flagging-off new train services in Bangalore city railway station on Tuesday, Banerjee said the railway ministry has taken steps to utilise unused railway lands to set up infrastructure projects.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) has come forward to set up 10 auto hubs across the country on these lands. The railway ministry has already permitted to set up an auto hub on railway lands in Shalimar, Howrah. Another nine auto hubs, including two in Bangalore and Mangalore, respectively, would be established across the country soon.

She said, “We have asked auto association to set up auto hubs in Bangalore and Mangalore for which they have agreed. We have also received proposals for automobile ancillary industries. We are thinking over it. Whenever it is final, Karnataka will get its share,” she said at the function which was also attended by railway ministers for state KH Muniyappa and E Ahamed and Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa.

Karnataka has offered good cooperation in implementing railway projects on cost sharing basis. In some projects, she said, Karnataka shared around 70% of cost of the project. Once work on dedicated freight corridor in western and eastern regions of the country is completed, the government would take up one for south, Banerjee added.

She said several railway projects could be implemented with the private participation. Rail links could be provided to industrial hubs, ports, coal mines if the projects are implemented on public-private partnership model, she added.

The minister has also announced a new train between Bangalore and Howrah.

On Banerjee’s suggestion of taking up rail links to industrial hubs and ports on PPP model, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said a feasibility study would be conducted and report will be submitted by January 2010.