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Mangalore-Hassan gauge conversion apace

Our Bureau

MANGALORE, Aug. 13

ATTEMPTS are being made to complete gauge conversion work along the Mangalore-Hassan line on a build-operate-own-transfer (BOOT) basis with the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) having been roped i n to finish the project by March 2001, according to the Union Minister of State for Finance, Mr. V. Dhananjaya Kumar. KRC and HUDCO are expected to submit a final proposal for the gauge conversion project to the Railway Board on August 24.

Addressing a press conference , Mr. Dhananjaya Kumar said that the Railway Budget for 2000-2001 had earmarked Rs. 26 crores for the project - Rs. 124 crores less than the estimated Rs. 150 crores required to complete the pending gauge conversion work alo ng this route.

The Railway Ministry had also set itself a target of December 2002 for the implementation of the project. However, given the `potential' for goods traffic with the reintroduction of container services from the New Mangalore Port, it has been decided to ` expedite' work along this route.

Stating that the proposal is for HUDCO to finance the project with KRC providing the technical expertise, Mr. Dhananjaya Kumar said that a meeting had been held in the Finance Minister's office in New Delhi which was attended by representatives from the Railway Board, KRC and HUDCO in which `in-principle' clearance has been granted to the proposal.

Regarding the Mangalore-Bangalore petroleum product pipeline project being taken up by Petronet, Mr. Dhanajaya Kumar said that an `interaction' between Petronet officials, local legislators and others would be convened on August 30 to address the `reserv ations of the people concerned' regarding the project.

Stating that it would not be feasible to depend only on the railway route to transport petroleum products given the expansion plans of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), Mr. Dhananjaya Kumar said land acquisition proceedings along the rout e where the 376-km pipeline is to be laid were in an `advanced stage' in all districts, except Dakshina Kannada. Regarding the decision of 18 gram panchayats in the district which have decided to file a petition in the High Court against the proposed pro ject, he said: ``Everybody must participate in progress. Some people might have to pay a price for this, but such people will be suitably compensated. Moreover, the land does not belong to the gram panchayats, it belongs to the State and the State has th e right to acquire land for the common good. We can discuss the terms and conditions of the compensation due to those who would be inconvenienced by the project.''

The Government was now working with a `broader vision' and he would certainly try and convince the people about the need for the pipeline.