Renewable energy for trains

BANGALORE: Soon suitable programmes will be framed to run trains on renewable energy said Union Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa.Speaking at a meet organised by Bangalore Reporter’s Guild here on Saturday, he said: “With the depletion of diesel and coal reserves, we are planning to run trains on renewable sources of energy. Prominence will be given to electrification. Through this pollution can be prevented,” said Muniyappa.He said that as per the 2020 operational plans, the existing 63,000-km railway network will be extended to 83,000 km by 2020. “As the state government is sharing costs of railway projects, preference is given. Then too, the state government is not spending the entire amount. For various reasons, land procurement is delayed which is affecting works,” he added.He said 87 km-long Kolar- Chikballapur rail line, 26 km-long Arsikere-Birur line, 28 km-long Dharwad- Kadabaraganavi line and 45- km-long Kadur-Chikmagalur line will be completed by this year.“Doubling of Bangalore- Mysore track is taken up after cost sharing with the state government,” he said.The project is delayed as a small parcel of land is not yet handed over to railways. He added in the next four years, the entire railway network will become accident free as every station will have computerised information.