- July 5, 2009
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Media Watch
Raghavendra thanks Mamata for including this proposal in budget
SHIMOGA: B.Y. Raghavendra, Shimoga MP, said on Saturday that the long-pending demand of the people of the region had been fulfilled with the sanctioning of a day intercity express train between Shimoga and Bangalore.
Addressing presspersons here, he thanked Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee for including this proposal in the budget presented by her on Friday. He said that he was happy that the demand put forth by a delegation led by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to the Railways Minister and the Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa had been considered.
He said that with the introduction of the intercity train, the economic development of the region would receive a big boost. The timings of the new train would be decided in consultation with the authorities concerned soon.
Mr. Raghavendra also thanked the Railways Minister for agreeing to take up a survey on a new railway line between Shimoga and Harihar and added that it would help the people of the Malnad region to go to cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai if the proposal was approved.
Mr. Raghavendra said that he would urge the authorities to complete the survey expeditiously so that it could be included in the next railway budget. Referring to the pending railway projects in and around Shimoga, Mr. Raghavendra said that the officers of the Mysore Railway Division had agreed to a request for shifting the railway level crossing near Mahadevi cinema so that it would not pose any hindrance to the new bridge being constructed across the Tunga.
The MLA said that they had agreed in principle to remove the obstacle near the railway station for continuation of work on the 100-foot ring road.
He had invited Mr. Muniyappa to visit Shimoga so that the problems relating implementation of many projects could be sorted out, he said.
Mr. Raghavendra said that the demand for extension of the railway line from Talaguppa to Honnavar to link with the Konkan Railway had been put on hold because of the reluctance on the part of the Centre to accord clearance.
He would take up the matter with Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh, he added.
He, however, expressed his disappointment over insufficient funds for completion of gauge conversion work between Shimoga and Talaguppa.
He said that he had taken up the proposals to open a training centre in Shimoga by the Sports Authority of India and a FM radio centre at the Bhadravati Radio Station.