BELAGAVI
In addition to the Rs 85 crore allotted for the electrification works of the Hospet-Vasco railway line, the Centre has also approved a budget grant of Rs 365 crore for the double-tracking of the project for the year 2021-22.
The budget grant will be utilised by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) which is executing the double-tracking work on this line.
Road safety works level crossings, safety road over/under bridges, track renewals, bridge works, signal and telecommunication and other works are some of the major plan heads of the Budgetary Grant, which will be utilised for the double-tracking project in Goa, where the double-tracking is being implemented.
According to official sources, Rs 365 crore and Rs 85 crore budget grant is the part of the total budget that was sanctioned by the Centre during the Railway Budget in 2010-11 when the project was endorsed.
The Ministry of Railways had initially sanctioned the project of doubling of 352.58 kms railway line between Hospet (Karnataka) and Vasco (Goa) in 2010-11 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,127crore.
“Till date, 273 out of 363 kms of the double-tracking of the line has been completed and the new budget grant is the part of the budget sanctioned. The RVNL in coordination with the Goa government will be implementing the double-tracking in Goa,” SWR Chief PRO E Vijaya told The Goan.
