Pact for railway projects to be intact

BANGALORE: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that the government would continue with the present cost-sharing agreement and would provide free land to 13 railways projects in the State.
“However, we have requested the Railways Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to consider the burden on the State government and relax the clauses in the agreement,” he said.
Responding to a debate raised under Section 68 of the Legislative Council rules, the chief minister admitted that he had written a letter to the Railways, asking to either completely taking over the costs involved in the 13 pending projects or agree to a CentreState cost sharing ratio of 2/3:1/3, including land costs.
Siddaramaiah said that as much as 14,000 acres of land and a whopping Rs 5,500 crore had to be given as State’s share towards these projects.
“This is a real burden on the State Exchequer. As a result, I have suggested the Railway minister to reduce the burden by selecting one of the two options presented to him.
This is just a request from the State. If the railways minister, who is from Karnataka, agrees to help the people of the State, we will gladly welcome it. If not, then we will continue with the present arrangement of 50:50 cost sharing and providing free land,” the chief minister said.
He said that of the 18 projects, five had been completed and 11 were pending. Another two projects, in-principle, have been agreed to be implemented under the State-Centre arrangement.
BJP members and the Leader of the Opposition agreed to the demands and said that they would also accompany the chief minister to New Delhi, if required, to persuade the railway minister to ease the financial burden on the State.

DH News Service