KARNATAKA OWES MUCH TO SHRI-JAFFER SRARIEF

Karnataka has reasons to acknowledge the useful contributions of Shrl CK Jaffer Sharief who ushered in the Uni-gauge system in the state. Before Shri SHarief became Minister of Railways(MR) In this decade and earlier Minister of State for Railways (MOSR) in the last decade', Karnataka was a destitute in the eyes of the Railways. This, despite the fact that half a dozen politicians from karnataka viere Railway Ministers. Most of Kamataka had only Metre-gauge tracks, With a few Broad-gauge lines around Mangalore, in the Gulbarga-Wadi-Raichur, in Bidar-Vikarabad-Wadi and Bangalore-Bangarpet sections. The new Broad- gauge line between Hospet-Guntkal section brought little cheer to rail users in Kamataka as the line as meant for carrying ore from Hospet-Bellary area to Madras Port. The new Metregauge line between Hassan and Mangalore also did not do much to solve the problem. The gauge conversion works that the Railways undertook was inexplicably delayed. The conversion of the Bangalore-Guntkalline and Mysore-Bangalore line took years to be completed. The gauge conversion in the main artery of the region Miraj-Bangalore continued to be in the metre gauge as the Maharashtra lobby was successful in getting the conversion of Poona-Miraj-Kolhapur line broadgauge and the work had stopped at Miraj: It is to be noted that improvements in the Railway means quicker industrialisation and quicker growth of Economy which has a direct bearing on the life and lifestyle of people. Shri Jaffer Sharief, being a visionary who means business implemented a number of schemes to benefit the people of Karnataka. While the contribution of Shri Sharief as MOSR and MR to Kamataka and its people in this direction is exhaustive, a few of them are listed below:

1) Setting up of the "DIVISION"at Bangalore
In Kamataka there was no Railway Division head quartered at Bangalore the capital of Kamataka. Only two divisions one at MYSORE in Southem Railway and another in HUBLI in South-Central Railway were functioning. One of tha first achievement was the setting yp of BANGALORE DIVISION headed by a Railways Divisional Manager at Bangalore in 1981. This gave alround improvement in service to the State and its people besides employment opportunities.

2) Setting up of the "RAILWAY SERVICE COMMISSION" now called "RAILWAY RECRUITMENT BOARD" at BANGALORE
There was very poor representation of Kamataka people in the Railways operating in Kamataka as the recruitment was centered by the Railway Service Commissions at Madras and Secundarabad. With a view to getting better representation and employment opportunities in the Railways for people of Karnataka a new RAILWAYS SERVICE COMMISSION now called 'RAILWAY RECRUITMENT BOARD' was set up a1 in 1980 at Bangalore the capital of Karnataka thus throWing open employment opportunities which was hither to a provocative of the neighbouring states of Kamataka locals.

3) Setting up of "WHEEL AND AXLE PLANT" at "YELAHANKA", Bangalore
The Wheel and Axle Plant at Yelahanka meant to manufacture the wheels and axles for the Railway Rolling Stock resulting in saving of foreign exchange and employment opportunities to Kamataka people in the plant as well as outside in its axcillaries units which was completed at a cost of over Rs.150 crores by providing the necessary requirement of finances and infrastructure by Shri Sharief as MOSR and formally opened in 1984.

4) Completion of Bangalore-Guntkal Metre-Gauge line to Broad-Gauge
Shri Sharief as MOSR speeded up and completed the Bangalore-Guntakal conversion project which was lingering for over 15 years and opened the Broad-Gauge line in January 1983 by giving a target of 6 months in a Railways Board meeting convened in July 1982, duly providing the required finances of Rs.22 crores and administrative machinery. This converted line provided a direct rail link between Bangalore and New Delhi via Hyderabad or Sholapur-Daund. This also brought Hyderabad-Karnataka area nearer to the State Capital.

5) Construction of CHITRADURGA-RAYADURGAnew line
Laying of a new Railway line between Bellary/Rayadurga and Chitradurga via Molakalmuni and Challkere was taken up to improve the hinterland in this region and a direct connection from north to south of Kamataka and also direct connection to Mangalore Port. The Metregauge line was completed when Shri Shari~f was MOSR and the Broad-gauging completed when Shri Sharief was MR. This would result in buoyancy in the economy of the people of this region which is backward area as also direct Railway connection reducing the distances from North to South.

6) Conversion of BANGALORE-MYSORE Metreguage Railway line to Broad-gauge
The 138 kms long Bangalore-Mysore Metregauge was taken up in 1979 and was lingering for over 13 years and was completed due to the push given by Shri Sharief and opened to Broad-gauge traffic in 1993. This has opened up this region and beyond Mysore also for development and large scale 1ndustrialisation besides convenience to passengers & goods direct from Mysore to New Delhi and other parts of India.

7) Setting up of an International Container depot at White field
This enables sending goods by container through Madras Port directly to foreign cities. This helps the export market & thus the economy grow. The industries get benefited for their exports & imports.

8) Setting up goods Terminal at White-field
The goods terminals at Bangalore City and Bangalore Cantonment etc., were insufficient to deal with Goods traffics.Hence a Big Goods Terminal near White field was conceived and setup. This would improve the receipt and despatch of Goods from Bangalore area.

9) Construction of MANGALORE-ROHA (BOMBAy) KONKAN RAILWAY line
While the concept of this direct Railway line called the KONKAN RAILWAY had been taken as a BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) project by the earlier ministry Shri Sharief as the minister of Railways took the necessary action to provide for the fYflding of the Project Costing over Rs.2000 crores and the necessary administrative actions so as to complete the project quickly. While 200 kms out of the total of 670 kms have been completed and opened to traffic at either ends from Mangalore to Kundapura and Roha to Veer, the remaining length between Kundapura and Veer via Karwar, Goa & Ratnagiri would be completed in the next few months. This line passes through Dakshina Kannada &Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka of a distance of about 273 kilometres. This Konkan line would open up the West Coast Konk~m area to industrialisation and resultant buoyancy in its economy. Besides, this line would reduce1he distances between North and South particularly between· Bombay and MangaloreiKerala and provide for alternative route also. This area in Karnataka as also in Goa and Maharashtra is bound to develop on leaps and bounds.

10) PROJECT UNI-GAUGEand Conversion of METRE-GAUGE and NARROW-GAUGE LINES to BROAD GAUGE
Railways from the life line of the economic development of the Country as a whole and region in particular. Project Unigauge and conversion of MG and NG lines to BG was taken at the top of the agenda to meet the emerging challenges and .harness the exploding opportunities and ensure economic integration of various regions. This would consolidate the cherished objective of National Integration.
A Bonanza came to Kamataka in the form of Uni-gauge plan. Conversion of the MG lines in the main trunk line of Miraj- Hubli-Bangalore a length of 784 kms was taken up and completed in the early part of this year. This was a dream come true to people of Karnataka as this would open up a second route to Bombay and the North and opens up the economy of the hinter land in this region of Kamataka.

The conversions completed in Karnataka by Shri Sharief are:

1. Bangalore - Mysore       138 kms
2. Bangalore - Miraj       748 kms
3. Chikjajur - Chitradurga - Challkere - Rayadurga - Bellary       198kms
.
4. Hospet - Hubli       143kms
5. Bangalore - Yelahanka       17kms
6. Alnavor - Dande/i       31kms
7. Birur - Shimoga       65kms

Conversion works In progress in Karnataka are as follows :

1. Arasikere - Hassan - Mangalore    235kms
2. Hassan - Mysore     119kms
3. . Londa - Goa     112kms
4. Hospet - Kottures     70kms
5. Bijapur - Gadag     300kms
6. Bijapur - Holgi     109kms
7. Gunda Road - Swamihalli     40kms
8. Yelahanka - 8angarpet     140kms
9. Bangalore - Salem     40kms (in Kamataka)

11) HARIHAR - KOTTURU new BG Railway line construction
This line between Harihar , Kottur a distance of 65 kms which is full of ore and agriculture produce has been taken up for construction (included in the budget of 1995-96) and is expected to be completed shortly resulting in development of this region and this would also reduce the distance from Bellary - Guntkal area to mangalore Port and South.

12. A record number of new Trains, Express Trains, Shatabdis and Rajdhani. Some of the more important trains introduced are:
a) SHATABDI's between MADRAS - BANGALORE - MYSORE and back
b) SHATABDI's between HUBLI - BANGALORE and back
c) RAJDHANI's EXPRESS between NEW-DELHI - BANGALORE -.NEW DELHI
d) Direct daily KARNATAKA EXPRESS TRAINS between BANGALORE - NEW DELHI and back
e) LALBAGH EXPRESS between BANGALORE - MADRAS and back
f) TIPPU EXPRESS between MYSORE - BANGALORE - MYSORE
g) KAVERI EXPRESS between BANGALORE - MYSORE - BANGALORE
h) TIRUPATHI EXPRESS between MYSORE - BAN-qALOI3E - TIRUPATHI
i) LINK EXPRESS direct train between BIDAR - BANGALORE
j) HAMPI EXPRESS direct train between BELLARY - BANGALORE
k)UDHYAN EXPRESS between BOMBAY - BANGALORE - BOMBAY
I)KURLA EXPRESS KURLA (BOMBAY) - BANGALORE - KURLA (BOMBAY)
m)GOLGUMBAZ EXPRESS between SHOLAPUR - BIJAPUR - BANGALORE
n)Shuttle trains between BAN GALORE - KRISHNARAJAPURAM, BANGALORE - TUMKUR - ARASIKERE, BAN GALORE - MARIKUPPAM, BAN GALORE - MYSORE.
0) Push and Pull trains between ARASIKERE - TUMKUR - BANGALORE - MYSORE, BANGALORE - WHITEFIELD, BANGALORE - YELAHANKAetc.
p) Weekly trains between BANGALORE - CALCUTIA - GUWAHATI, BANGALORE - QUILON
q) Direct trains between BANGALORE - TIRUCHIRAPALLI - MADURAI
r) Direct trains between MANGALORE - KRISHNARAJAPURAM - BOMBAY
s) Direct trains between BANGALORE - KRISHNARAJAPURAM - AHMEDABAD - TRIVANDRUM - COCHIN

This list is only a limited one. In fact it is now possible to travel from any distant part of Kamataka and reach Bangalore the Capital of Karnataka overnights and get back overnight. Also it is possible to reach Metro Cities of India like New Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Hyderabad and other important cities like Guwahati etc. and also the cities and places enroute by direct trains.

13) A number of Road-over and road-under Bridges were constructed in Karnataka. This would ensure smooth flow of traffic safely instead of the risk and delays involved in crossing the Railway lines. To name a few of them are the Road overt under Bridges as Millers Road in Bangalore, Palace Road in Bangalore, at Kadur, at Birur, at Mysore, at Tannisandra, at Dobbaspet, Hirehalli, Kyatsandra, Hejjalal etc., and works in progress for early completion at Bldadl, atYelahanka etc., In addition to Sub-way at Yeswanthapur, Foot over Bridge at Malleswaram and Benson town were got done.

14) A number of Stations/Station Buildings were re-modelled with additional facilities. To name a few of them are Tumkur. Mandya, Nayanadanahalli, Yediyur, Channapatna, Ramanagaram, Shimoga, Tiptur, Krisnarajapuram, Mantralayam Road. Whitefield etc., A number of Canteens/Catering Stations were improved including setting up of a modern Restaurant a type Canteen at Bangalore City Station.

15) Diesel Locoshed at Krishnarajapuram near Bangalore was completed in a record time. This would facilitate running of trains hauled by Diesel Engines in Karnataka areas besides employment opportunities to the locals.

16) Electrification of Jolarpet - Banqalore was given a push and completed in 1993. This enabled running of faster and longer trains to and from Bangalore.

17) Setting up of Computer reservation in Bangalore in a new building adjacent to Bangalore City Station. This enabled Computer reservation of through and onward journeys from Bangalore. This would cover most of the important stations in India.

18) Cable - Stayed - Over - Bridge at Krishnarajapuram
The exlstinq road - over bridge at Krlshnarajepuram is narrow and dilapidated. This is a National Highway between Bangalore and Madras. This Bridge is being rebuilt as a modern cable- stayed bridge with wide road and better approaches for smooth from the road traffic.

19)Workshop at Mysore
The Railway workshop at Mysore has been converted into Broad gauge workshop with a mixed gauge back between _ Mysore and Ahokapuram.

20)Workshop at Hubli
This has been upgraded for Broadgauge workshop

21) Metro Rail for Bangalore
A techno-economic survey was conducted and project report submitted by the Railway for Sub-urban transport system for Bangalore City in 1983 and further updatings were made by the Railways / RITEs subsequently and submitted to the state Government.

22) Survey was completed for some of the new Railway lines like Chamarajanagar - Mettupalayam via Satyamangalam, Mysore - Mercara, Kadur - Chikmagalur, Chickmagalur - Belur - Sakleshpur, Miraj - Bagalkot via Jamkhandies.

23)Musical Fountain at Bangalore
A modern and sophisticated Musical Fountain at approximate cost of about Rs. 2 crores is being donated by the Railway to the State on the coming Rajyotsava day. This would attract lot of tourists and is also of great interest to children and -people of Bangalore and Karnataka. This is located very near to Vidhana Soudha so that it can be conveniently reached.

     "The woods are lovely dark and deep
       but I have promises to keep
       and Miles to go before I sleep
       and Miles to go before I sleep"
                           -Robert Frost