The Union Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna recently inaugurated a series of mega railway development projects to facilitate greater connectivity and respond to growing transport demands within the state. Among these are the Dharwad-Belagavi rail line, which includes the Talaguppa-Sirsi-Hubballi railway link, as part of Indian Railway’s efforts to better its infrastructure in consonance with the requirements of people within that area.
Main Highlights of Dharwad-Belagavi Railway Line
This new railway line from Dharwad to Belagavi is going to be a game-changer in connectivity for the region. It was in the meeting held at the headquarters of South Western Railway wherein Somanna communicated this project is on the move. By January 2025, about 90% of the required land for the new line is expected to be transferred to the railway department. District Administrations of both Belagavi and Dharwad have also assured in a sealed letter to give up transfer on 550 acres of their land and 272 acres respectively.
These developments are also likely to make the Dharwad-Belagavi line a reality, thus significantly reducing travel time between these two key cities. The new railway line is going to be of utmost importance in inflating local economies as it is expected to enhance access to markets and lower transportation costs.
Focus on Malnad Region with Talaguppa-Sirsi-Hubballi Line
Somanna also said that the survey for the 165 km Talaguppa-Sirsi-Hubballi railway line has been completed and will boost connectivity in the Malnad region. The DPR for this line is under preparation and is expected to be submitted by June 2025. This is a significant project as it is supposed to cater to much-needed railway services in the hilly Malnad region where people have restricted access to big cities.
Other Significant Railway Projects in the State
Projects considered in the meeting are the following:
Hubballi-Ankola New Line: Connecting two significant cities in the Karnataka state, namely, Hubballi and Ankola. It shall offer easier and improved connectivity to the commuters and commercial parties.
Constructing Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs): Design and development for better road safety at important railway level crossing places where important roads are connected, ensuring smooth plying of traffic.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS): Development of many stations is in process under the Amrit Bharat Scheme to enhance passenger amenities. Upgradation work here will ensure friendly stations for easy passage for all the passengers visiting that station.
Such projects need to be taken seriously and deadlines of their completion need to be followed, emphasized Somanna. He requested the officials to clear hurdles for the completion of such projects. It’s an Indian Railways vision through a process of modernizing the railway system in order to provide the nation with the best transportation means.
Improvement of Railway Infrastructure in Karnataka
One of the most important declarations made during the meet was to build an underground drainage system at railway stations across the state. Most railway under bridges get waterlogged during monsoons, which affects their working. Indian Railways will now look into this matter and ensure that trains run on schedule without any interruption throughout the year.
Increasing Train Services to Meet Passenger Demand
Some new suggestions were given by Union Minister, Pralhad Joshi, to enhance the frequency of trains in the region during the meeting. Some important suggestions are as follows:
Enhancement of train frequencies between Hubballi and Varanasi: Joshi suggested increasing the frequency of the same trains that are operating between Hubballi and Varanasi to bi-weekly from weekly.
New trains between Hubballi and important destinations like Ajmer, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad. The number of connectivity with major cities in the country will increase.
MEMU train: He has suggested a new local train between Hubballi and its near stations Annigeri, Kundagol, Saunshi, Gudigeri, and Dharwad.
In addition to these, there has been a demand for train service connecting Dandeli with Dharwad so that transportation in the local level is bettered by reducing the time taken to travel across the regions.
Conclusion: Future Is Bright For Railway Infrastructure Of Karnataka
The announcements given by Union Minister V Somanna mark a very significant step forward for railway infrastructure development in Karnataka. The state will witness increased connectivity because of the host of important projects that come under its construction, such as the Dharwad-Belagavi railway line, Talaguppa-Sirsi-Hubballi line, and station re-development schemes. The department promised to complete the projects currently in hand well before the deadlines and work on issues like waterlogging and increase train services to enhance traveling experiences and economic options for the people of Karnataka.
As the railway infrastructure in Karnataka develops further, the future of transport here will definitely be shaped by these developments.
Refer:
Economic Times, Link to article
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