Railways to double tracks by 2014 LINE

The Railways will complete doubling of tracks between Bangalore and Mysore by 2014. Announcing this, Union minister of state for railways KH Muniyappa said there were land acquisition hurdles which were resolved.

"This route has become busier by the day. At present, around 25,000 people travel between these two cities by train on a daily basis," he said.

A total of 138 km of track has to be doubled and is sanctioned in three phases - Bangalore to Kengeri (12km), Kengeri to Ramnagaram (32 km) and Ramnagaram to Mysore (94 km). Although these works were sanctioned between 2003 and 2008, work never started because of right of way issues in Mandya. Muniyappa said the work is going on full swing. "Fifty acres of land has to be acquired in Mandya district. The work was supposed to be complete by 2011. The delay is attributed to land issues," he said.

He also said that shortage of funds from the ministry of railways is a reason why multiple rail projects are yet to be taken up in the state. He said that when the SWR requires Rs 210 crore for works related to the state, they get only Rs30 crores as funds. Last year the SWR was sanctioned Rs 60 crore only.