K’taka govt delaying nod to rename Tumkur rly station after Sri Shivakumara Swamiji: Somanna

TUMAKURU: Union Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna, expressed his concern over the Karnataka’s state government delaying approval to rename Tumkur railway station after Sri Shivakumara Swamiji, a revered figure in Tumakuru. He said that he has not received a response despite writing four letters and personally meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking at an event in Tumakuru on Saturday, Somanna highlighted that a Rs 90 crore tender was issued for the project, but the state government has made no progress in the past five to six months. Somanna also mentioned that he had spoken to the relevant officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary, but the response has been unsatisfactory.

The Union Minister emphasized that he has refrained from interfering in state government matters for the past nine months, expecting them to handle it independently. Somanna urged the state government to expedite the process, warning officials to fulfill their responsibilities. The Tumkur railway station, currently a Grade B station, serves the city of Tumakuru.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Somanna as a representative for seven states in the Eastern region, and he has already visited five of these states to engage with local leaders. Somanna shared that he has already visited Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Himachal Pradesh to engage with local leaders and discuss various issues. (ANI)