4 new trains, routes for K'taka

The Union Railway Budget 2007-08 has proposed four new trains from Karnataka apart from four new routes connecting the state to various destinations.

Announcing the Budget proposals, railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said the following new trains would be introduced in Karnataka: Solapur (Maharashtra)-Bagalkot (Karnataka) Express (6 days a week); Yeshwantpur (Bangalore)-Chennai Express (weekly); Gorakhpur-Yeshwantpur Express (weekly) and Bijapur-Bagalkot Express (6 days a week).

Survey work to lay tracks on four new routes will be taken up this year. They include Nanjangud (Karnataka)-Nilambur (Kerala); Mysore-Tellichery (Kerala); Tumkur-Davangere and Dharwad-Bailhongal-Belgaum.

A new 'Garib Rath' express train connecting Secunderabad and Yeshwantpur will operate for three days a week.

"The Andhra Pradesh government had urged for new lines between Bangalore and Kadapa town. All such proposals will be considered on highest priority while seeking necessary approvals. I request all the state governments to co-operate by sharing the cost of new and ongoing projects on 50:50 basis," he added.

Among other Budget proposals are doubling works of Ramanagram-Mysore and Arasikere-Birur lines.

The frequency of the following trains will be increased: 6315/6316 Bangalore-Kochuvelli Express (from weekly once to 3 days a week); 6527/6528 Yeshwantpur-Kannur Express (from weekly once to 3 days a week); 6595/6596 Patna-Bangalore Express (from 2 days a week to 6 days a week); 6603/6604 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Express (from 3 days a week to daily) and 1561/1562 Miraj-Belgaum Passenger (from 6 days a week to daily). The 6509/6510 Ajmer-Bangalore Express will be extended up to Mysore.

The Bangalore Chambers of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) has termed the Railway Budget as a progressive step.

"The move to introduce 32 new passenger trains and 8 Garib Rath trains and high-speed trains will help the railways in meeting the increasing demand for capacity and speed," BCIC president Venkat Kedlaya said in a statement.

"One area of concern has always been modernisation and upgradation of the Indian Railways, which has not kept pace with international norms. The Indian Railways needs to modernise on an urgent basis to provide a lifeline of transportation and communication to the nation," Kedlaya added.