Wednesday, September 7 2005 14:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Union minister of Sate for Railways, R Velu today (Sept 7, 2005) possible hike in train fares following the rise in oil prices.

"We have not hiked the fare twice before but now we might have to," Velu told reporters today after inaugurating a platform vending machine and an unreserved ticketing counter at the Bangalore City station here.

Dismissing allegations that Karnataka had been ignored by the Ministry, he said that the state had more projects that were being undertaken than compared to some other states.

On the doubling of the Bangalore-Mysore line project, he said that the project was a joint venture between the Central Government and the State Government.

The first phase of the 85 crore project from Bangalore to Kengri had been completed and the work upto Ramnagaram was expected to be completed by the next financial year.

The State Government had to bear 2/3 of the total cost but the money from the State Government was still awaited. Meanwhile, work on the project was in process, he said.

The project of conversion of meter gauge to broad gauge from Hassan to Mangalore was expected to be completed soon.

The meter guage conversion project from Bijapur to Bagalkot and Gulbarga to Hospet was expected to be completed by next March, he said.

With the inauguration of the vending machines today, the Bangalore city station would boast of five such machines. A total of 10 such machines were planned, T N Perti GM, South Western Railway said here today.

Over 10,000 passengers buy platform tickets daily earning a revenue of around Rs 30,000 daily, a senior official said.