New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda commended Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the enhanced budget allocation and the unveiling of significant projects for the railway sector during the Union Budget announcement, which goes beyond just fulfilling the country's immediate necessities.

Deve Gowda advocated for the extension of the Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed railway corridor to Bidar.

In a correspondence to the Railway Minister, the former Prime Minister lauded the introduction of seven new high-speed rail corridors spanning nearly 4,000 km in the 2026 Budget.

He mentioned that these corridors will serve as vital growth links, fostering sustainable transportation and stimulating economic advancement.

Among the highlighted corridors is the Chennai-Bengaluru-Hyderabad corridor (which includes segments from Hyderabad to Chennai and Chennai to Bengaluru), aimed at establishing a high-speed triangle in the southern states. This corridor is expected to directly fulfill the mobility needs and aspirations of the residents in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, along with advantages for Kerala and Puducherry, he noted.

He also pointed out that other corridors like Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri will link essential urban, industrial, and spiritual hubs across the nation. These initiatives are expected to drastically reduce travel times and attract investments worth Rs 16 lakh crore.

He emphasized that this forward-thinking project aligns perfectly with the ambitious vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and will hasten India's progression towards a developed, modern economy supported by top-notch infrastructure.

Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda reiterated the necessity of extending the Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed railway corridor to Bidar, asserting that this would be immensely advantageous for the areas of North Karnataka and Telangana. He stated that this expansion would meet the long-standing demands of the Bidar region.

He also highlighted the importance of enhancing internal connectivity within Karnataka. The distance between Bengaluru and Belagavi is approximately 600 km, with current travel durations by road or rail typically spanning from eight to ten hours. Such lengthy travel times severely restrict development between North and South Karnataka. A high-speed rail connection linking Bengaluru, Belagavi, Pune, and Mumbai would be hugely beneficial, he stated.

Meanwhile, an official announcement from Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy indicated that the Central government has consented to offer a loan facility of Rs 150 crore through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the expansion initiative of the Hassan Mega Dairy.

It stated that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with JD (S) MLA and President of the Hassan Milk Union H.D. Revanna, met with Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) and presented a request.

"Responding quickly to the plea made by Minister Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister sanctioned a loan of Rs 150 crore through the National Dairy Development Board. Kumaraswamy expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying for their positive response to the appeal,” the statement concluded.