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Railways to form joint venture with Karnataka govt: Suresh Prabhu
The Railways will form a joint venture company with the Karnataka government in three months, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said.
Stating that this will help develop rail infrastructure projects in the State, the Railways needs small and medium enterprises to supply components to it. He was addressing the valedictory of the platinum jubilee celebrations of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Monday.
Infra focus
Highlighting the role of infrastructure development in the growth story, Prabhu said the Railways has been investing heavily in infrastructure projects such as track development, hi-speed rail line, and dedicated freight corridor.Two of the major international companies have been given the task of making electric and diesel locomotives for the Railways.
Stressing on the need to explore the potential of the west coast of the country, he said organisations such as KCCI should come forward and work with the Railways to explore this potential.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, Ramanath Rai, Minister in charge of Dakshina Kannada district, and JR Lobo, Member of Legislative Assembly (Mangaluru South), spoke on the occasion.
PTI adds: Speaking after renaming Bengaluru city railway station as Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Station in Bengaluru on Sunday, Prabhu said the idea is for the State government to collaborate with the Railways to create fast and accelerated infrastructure for the State.
“Within the next three months, we will operationalise this (joint venture) company. The Chief Minister has invited me for a meeting on this. We will take the next step forward to ensure that the company is operationalised and take up infrastructure projects,” he added.
In February, the Union government had cleared a proposal allowing the Railways to form JV companies with State governments with equity participation to help identify areas that require new railway lines, acquire land for projects and help pool funds as well as jointly monitor these projects.
Station renamed
The Bengaluru station was named after Karnataka’s prominent freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna (1798-1831), the head of the army in the princely State of Kittur ruled by Rani Chennamma.Prabhu also laid the foundation stone for Yelahanka-Penukonda (120 km), Arsikere-Tumakuru (96 km), Hubballi-Chikjajur (190 km) doubling projects, and road overbridge at Koppal.
The road overbridge at Davangere was also commissioned today during the event that was attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar, among others.
Track doubling
Prabhu promised that doubling of Mysuru-Bengaluru line will be completed in six months and Bengaluru-Hassan new line project of 165 km will be done before the end of 2016.The Ministry is exploring the possibility of having ‘semi high speed’ railway between Bengaluru-Mysuru and Hubballi-Bengaluru. Detroit Lions Jersey
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