2 weeks Ago
Belagavi : V Somanna , the Union minister of state for railways, said the govt is contemplating merging the Konkan Railway and Indian Railway to provide better service to passengers. He spoke after welcoming the Pune-Hubballi Vande Bharat train at Belagavi railway station on Monday at 10.30am.
"The Konkan Railway network has been spread from Maharashtra to Kerala. We have already held discussions with the Karnataka, Kerala, and Goa govts in this regard, and the merger process will begin after holding talks with the Maharashtra govt," he stated. Addressing media persons, Union minister Somanna said the services of the railway department have become much better compared to earlier under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Following the prime minister's vision, the railway department is focusing on the safety and comfort of the passengers," he said. Meanwhile, the railway minister assured that shortly Belagavi will get the Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Belagavi. "I have already discussed the demand for extending the Bengaluru-Dharwad Vande Bharat train up to Belagavi, with MP Jagadish Shettar, Union minister Pralhad Joshi and officials," he clarified.
He added that he will also try to start Vande Bharat between Bengaluru and Mumbai since the Belagavits are in close contact with both cities. Concerning the Belagavi-Dharwad new railway line project, Somanna said he has talked with the Belagavi DC and local public representatives. The work would be initiated once the land acquisition process is over.
Meanwhile, he said the survey work has been ordered to provide railway service to the Renuka Yallamma temple of Savadatti. MP Jagadish Shettar, Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi, former MP Mangala Angadi, mayor Savita Kamble, MLA Vitthal Halagekar, former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath, and KS Jain, additional general manager of South-Western Railways (SWR), were present. Various demands On the occasion, MP Jagadish Shettar submitted a memorandum to minister Somanna demanding new trains between Belagavi-Pandharpur, Belagavi-Mumbai, and Rajdhani Express from Belagavi.
Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi urged for a superfast express between Belagavi-Mumbai, especially at night, and Miraj-Mangaluru Express to connect West Maharashtra to South Konkan. He also demanded a push-pull train between Belagavi-Miraj. Various organisations distributed sweets on the occasion on the premises of the railway station.
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