§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Government of India, in their programme of railway construction for the year 1905–6, included an allotment of six lakhs for a line from Viramgam to Malia, which forms part of a projected connection with Sind through Cutch; and, in view of the fact that the Cutchi inhabitants of Bombay, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, and the Municipality of Hyderabad, have sent forward petitions urging that in the public interest the line should pass through Cutch, will he state whether the objections raised by the Rao of Cutch have yet been considered; and, if so, with what result.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The estimates for the construction of the Viramgam-Malia line were sanctioned by the Secretary of State last year, and an allotment was, as stated in the Question, included in the programme for 1905–6, but no expenditure was incurred on it during that year. The allotment for the Bombay-Sind connection in the railway programme for 1906–7 is three lakhs. As I stated in reply to a Question on 2nd May last,† a reconnaissance; of alternative routes to the north and south of the Runn has been sanctioned. I understand that when this reconnaissance has been carried out, the question of the route will be considered.