Rail Budget 2010 – Sops for Karnataka

Mamata Banerjee has presented her 2^nd Railway Budget in Lok Sabha yesterday. The budget was welcomed by many people still there were certain things which were missing in the budget.  Mamata has eyed the upcoming election in West Bengal and has given the most sops in this Rail Budget 2010 to West Bengal.

This is a common approach done by each Railway Minister during his tenure to develop his state and city while he is minister. Mamata Banerjee dictated her Budget for about 2 hours and with many innovations and steps taken to improve security, upgrading stations, regional language option to write railways exams and many more trains introduced and extended.

Karnataka being on Non-Congress ruled State has got is fair share during the Rail Budget 2010. Some of the key highlights of Karnataka State are:

New Trains for Karnataka State:

1) Weekly Duronto from Bangalore to Delhi

2) Yeshwantpur – Howrah – 4 times a week

3) Bangalore to Nagarcoil – once a week

4) Bangalore to Tirupathi – 3 times a week

5) Daily train to Shimoga to Mysore

6) Bangalore to Neelmangala via Chikkabanavara – New train

New Rail Line Connection for Karnataka State:

1) New line from Bagalkot to Koduchi

2) Survey for line between Marikuppam and Kuppam , Gauribidanur and Chikkaballapur

With the help of State Government (PPP Model)

1) Line between Hassan and Bangalore, Kadur, Chikmangalu and Saklespur

2) Doubling of the Arsikere – Birur line

3) Gauge conversion between Chikkaballapur and Kolar

New lines with help of State Government (PPP Model).

1) Shimoga – Harihar

2) Whitefield – Kolar

3) Talaguppa – Honnavar

4) Gadag – Haveri

5) Tumkur – Davangiri

6) Bijapur – Shahabad

7) Dharward – Belgaum

More additions to the State were:

1) Adarsh Station at Chikkaballapur, Devanhalli, Doddaballapur, Gauribidanur, Yelahanka

2) Multi functional complexes at Tumkur, Yeshwantpur, Shimoga, Davangere

3) Uniformed attendents for aged and physically challenged at stations

4) Anti-collision devices for rail safety

5) Research and Design unit for wheel sin Bangalore to setup at Railway Wheel Factory

6) Service charges deduct by Rs 10 for Sleeper

7) Service charges deducts by Rs 20 for AC Class

8) E-Ticketing will now be made available at all major hospitals, Courts, IIM, IITs, Universities.