Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu on Thursday expressed hope that the National Green Tribunal and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) will give a green signal for the implementation of the Hubballi-Ankola railway line project.
He was speaking after inaugurating various facilities for passengers at the railway stations that come under Karwar jurisdiction.
The minister said the Railways was keen to implement the Hubballi-Ankola railway line and the matter had been discussed with the state chief secretary. Track doubling was also under progress under Konkan Railway and this would boost tourism, he said. In the past three years, various facilities had been extended for passengers of Konkan Railway, the minister said.
In order to provide quality food to passengers of Konkan Railway, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), in private partnership, had called for e-tenders. The funds earmarked for railway projects are hiked nearly four times every year, the minister said. In order to facilitate the Sagaramala project, railway connectivity will be extended to all ports in the country. This will boost business and trade, Prabhu said.