Hubli, Dec 24 (UNI) While asserting that Railways has made an additional investment of over Rs 5,000 crore compared to last year, the Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu denied that the State was neglected in terms of developmental initiatives.

He pointed out that the Railways made over Rs 20,000 crore of capital investment this year for various railway works in Karnataka as against Rs 15,000 crore last year.

Addressing a press conference here today, after laying foundation stone for New Hubli railway station complex, Mr Velu said that Indian Railways has made significant investment for developmental works in Karnataka despite resource constraints.

On the long pending Hubli-Ankola Railway project, the minister said that since this issue was before the Supreme Court appointed the empower committee to address the issue of environment and forest land, he was concerned that the project could not be taken up for implementation.

Mr Velu, while refusing to shift the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) from Bangalore to Hubli, said that there was no proposal before the South Western Railways on the issue. He also indicated that he will hold RRB examinations on a single day throughout the country.

Responding to another question, Mr Velu informed that still 20 per cent of the total 63,000 km length of railway was under meter gauge and steps were being taken to bring the left over portion uunder unigauge programme in the next budget.

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