Union Minister Highlights Karnataka’s Surge in Railway Funding, Underscores Unprecedented Growth
Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has come forward with a strong rebuttal to claims made by the Congress party, arguing that Karnataka is receiving unprecedented allocations for railway development under the BJP-led NDA government. Joshi revealed that the Union government has increased funding for Karnataka’s railway projects by a staggering nine times in the latest budget compared to the previous UPA era.
In a statement on February 5, 2025, Joshi, who is also a Member of Parliament from Karnataka’s Dharwad constituency, presented clear figures to counter Congress’s criticisms. He compared the railway funding during the tenure of the UPA government, where the average annual budget for Karnataka was just ₹835 crore, to the ₹7,559 crore allocated in the 2025-26 Union Budget—a figure that is nine times higher. The Minister explained that over the last nine years under the NDA government, funding for railway projects in Karnataka has remained consistently high, further cementing the government’s commitment to enhancing the state’s railway infrastructure.
Joshi outlined several significant developments in Karnataka’s railway network, including the construction of 31 new railway tracks, with a total of 3,840 kilometres of new railway tracks being developed across 31 projects at a total estimated cost of ₹47,016 crore. Additionally, ₹1,981 crore has been allocated to modernise 61 major railway stations under the “Amrit Bharat Station” scheme, marking a major shift towards modern infrastructure in the state. The introduction of 10 Vande Bharat Express trains that operate through 12 districts of Karnataka, stopping at 18 key stations, is another notable achievement. The Vande Bharat Express represents the future of fast and comfortable rail travel, symbolising India’s push for world-class railway services. Joshi also pointed to Karnataka’s remarkable progress in expanding its railway network. Since 2014, the state has constructed a total of 1,652 km of new railway tracks—surpassing the total railway network of Sri Lanka. In stark contrast, during the UPA era, only 113 tracks were constructed.
A major milestone has been the electrification of 96.5% of Karnataka’s railway network. Out of 3,233 km covering 294 routes, all but a small fraction have now been electrified, which is a significant improvement over the UPA period when only 18 routes were electrified. This vast improvement is expected to contribute to reducing the state’s carbon footprint and ensuring smoother, more efficient rail operations. For passengers, Karnataka has been investing in amenities that significantly enhance their experience. Wi-Fi facilities are now available at 335 railway stations, and major stations have been fitted with modern amenities such as lifts at 61 locations and escalators at 43 locations. In a significant step towards improving passenger convenience, ₹1,240 crore is being invested in the redevelopment of four major railway stations in Karnataka. Bengaluru Cantt Station, one of the busiest stations in the state, is being developed with ₹475 crore, while other key stations such as Yeshwantpur, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, and Tumakuru will also undergo major upgrades.
Joshi emphasised that the redevelopment projects, combined with the increased funding for rail infrastructure, will significantly improve connectivity and convenience for people across Karnataka. The state is now poised for a railway infrastructure transformation, underlining the government’s push to modernise and expand the country’s transport sector. With this massive investment and focus on improving railway infrastructure, Karnataka is seeing an unprecedented boost in connectivity, making it one of the most advanced states in terms of rail development. The huge increase in funding under the NDA government is a strong indicator of the Centre’s continued commitment to transforming India’s railway system, providing better services and facilities for passengers while creating more job opportunities and economic growth in Karnataka. As these projects roll out, the state is set to benefit greatly from enhanced connectivity, improved infrastructure, and an expanding rail network.
