Infrastructure and Industries Minister convened a meeting with officials from South Western Railway (SWR) to address the pressing issues affecting several railway projects funded through cost-sharing arrangements with the central government.
The discussions primarily focused on overcoming land acquisition hurdles and expediting the progress of key projects such as Gadag-Wadi, Dharwad-Belagavi, Tumakuru-Davanagere, and Tumakuru-Rayadurga.
During the review, Patil emphasised the need to address several critical issues. These include the 242-kilometre double track between Gadag and Hotgi, the 45-kilometre double track linking Bagalkot and Kudachi, and the construction challenges related to small bridges in the Almatti backwater region. Additionally, Patil raised concerns about the delays in introducing a Vande Bharat train service to Vijayapura and the inadequacies of infrastructure at Hubballi South railway station. By resolving these issues, Patil believes the travel time from Bengaluru to Vijayapura could be significantly reduced to approximately 10 hours.
The minister also highlighted the inefficiencies caused by the current routing of trains. He pointed out that trains from Bengaluru to North Karnataka often bypass Gadag Main station, leading to longer travel times due to engine changes at Hubballi. Patil proposed that improving Hubballi station’s infrastructure and streamlining train operations could enhance efficiency and reduce journey times. Furthermore, Patil reached out to several ministers and officials, including Priyank Kharge and Laxmi Hebbalkar, as well as district deputy commissioners, urging them to address project-related issues in their respective regions. The review also covered other significant projects, such as Chikkamagaluru-Hadihalli and Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur, underscoring the minister’s commitment to advancing railway infrastructure in the state.
