Bengaluru - Mumbai premium train service will start soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Bengaluru (PTI): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said that a premium train service from Bengaluru to Mumbai will start soon.
He said Karnataka has received a record Rs 7,748 crore in this year's railway budget -- nine times the allocation during the Congress-led UPA government, and the total railway investment in the state is Rs 52,950 crore.
"Massive investment will cover track creation, station redevelopment, safety, announcements, Bengaluru suburban and many new projects in Karnataka," he told reporters here.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that, "very soon, we'll be starting a premium train service from Bengaluru to Mumbai. Tejasvi ji (Bengaluru South MP) had come for that, and many other requests had also come. Many sections are getting doubled, so very soon we'll have many more services."
On the Vande Bharat train from Bengaluru to Mangaluru, he said, "Now, the testing, certifications are going on for electrification. As soon as those processes are completed, we'll share with you the details very soon," he said.
On land acquisition, the minister said the Centre continues to seek the state's support as land is a state subject.
"We continuously pursue the state government for land acquisition in many projects. We believe in cooperative federalism. So we keep requesting the state for land acquisition. I don't want to specify any individual point or project. If needed, I can supply the details, but I don't want to get into the blame game. It's important that we all have the common objective of working for the people and our states," he said.
On the proposed bullet train corridors linking Bengaluru with Chennai and Hyderabad, announced in the Union Budget, Vaishnaw said the project would significantly benefit the region.
"As the finance minister said, it will connect the three large economies of South Indian states. They will become the high-speed diamonds of South India," Vaishnaw said.
A lot of work has already gone in, and a lot of progress has already happened in this regard, he added.
"But now we have to take it to the next level. And if we look at the capability that our industry has acquired, the capability that railway engineers have acquired, it will be a nice journey. Work will move forward very fast," he said.
He said work on the Bengaluru suburban rail has gained progress after a railway officer was appointed Managing Director of K-RIDE.
"Now we have the designs completed. We have the tender documents prepared.
We have got the approvals which are required for designing a complex system, like a suburban system, almost more than half is elevated, so it has to be designed in a proper way, and especially it is along the existing railway line," he said.
Vaishnaw said the design is done and that the progress is very fast now.
Calling the Yesvantpur-Kolar line important, he said the state government had withdrawn their support.
"So we will be requesting the state government to support it, because Bengaluru development is very important. We must double the capacity of Bengaluru. Then only can meet the demand. We must have more and more railway lines for the state."
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Curfew relaxed in Meghalaya's Garo Hills for church services
Shillong (PTI): The curfew in Meghalaya's Garo Hills, imposed in the wake of recent violence that claimed two lives, was relaxed for 12 hours on Sunday for church services, officials said.
West Garo Hills District Magistrate Vibhor Agarwal, in an order, said the curfew will remain in force for 24 hours from 6 am on March 15, unless withdrawn earlier but a 12-hour relaxation from 6 am to 6 pm has been allowed to facilitate public movement to attend church services and other essential activities.
The order, issued under Section 163 of the BNSS, said incidents of violence in various parts of the district posed a serious threat to human life, public safety and property, making it necessary to continue preventive measures.
Authorities said that no person shall move outside their residence during the curfew hours and any violation would attract penal action under Section 223 of the BNS and other provisions.
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East Garo Hills District Magistrate R P Marak, in a notification, said the curfew will remain relaxed from 6 am to 6 pm on March 15 to allow residents to attend church services.
However, authorities said Williamnagar Main Bazaar will remain closed during the relaxation period.
Personnel engaged in essential services such as police, ambulance, electricity and water supply, fire and emergency services, and on-duty government officials and media personnel will continue to remain exempted from the curfew restrictions, officials said.
Curfew was imposed following protests over the issue of the eligibility of candidates in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls.
The protests saw incidents of arson, vandalism and clashes, resulting in the death of at least two persons and injuries to several others, while a number of shops, establishments and vehicles were damaged.
In view of the prevailing law and order situation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the postponement of the GHADC elections that were scheduled to be held on April 10.
