Title - Railway Minister flags off Talaguppa–Shimoga train

Kharge also launches the Mysore–Shimoga passenger

Union Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the newly introduced Talaguppa–Shimoga–Talaguppa passenger and the Mysore–Shimoga passenger, which has been extended to Talaguppa, here on Saturday.He directed officials of the South Western Railway to provide two additional bogies for the Talaguppa–Bangalore express.

VIP lounge

Mr. Kharge said that a VIP lounge would be built at the Shimoga railway station. He said that though there had been a sharp increase in operation costs and the price of diesel in recent times, the Railways had continued to provide services at an affordable rate.The Ministry of Railways was using the revenue generated by its operations to commission new projects and upgrade the quality of its existing services, he said.The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa requested the Ministry of Railways to take up work on a rail link between Talaguppa and Honnavar at the earliest. The State government, in the past, had volunteered to bear 50 per cent of the cost of the project.He requested Mr. Kharge to take the initiative to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the project.

‘Start train at Shimoga’

Chairperson of the Legislative Council D.H. Shankaramurthy said that at present, the intercity train between Mysore and Shimoga began from Mysore. The train should start from Shimoga as it would benefit passengers from the Malnad region, he said.He requested the Ministry of Railways to provide land for the completion of the outer ring road project in Shimoga.B.Y. Raghavendra, MP, sought the commencement of work related to Shimoga–Shikaripur–Ranibennur railway line at the earliest. Commissioning this line would ensure easy access to north Karnataka for people of the district.He also requested the construction of a railway overbridge, near Vidya Nagar railway station, to facilitate smooth movement of traffic.Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kagodu Thimmappa; Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar; Ayanur Manjunath, MP; M.J. Appaji, Bhadravathi MLA; K.B. Prasanna Kumar, Shimoga MLA; Sharada Poorya Naik, Shimoga Rural MLA, and P.V. Krishna Bhat, MLC, were present.


‘Provide two additional bogies for the Talaguppa–

Bangalore express, SWR told’

‘Take up work on a rail link between Talaguppa and Honnavar at the earliest’