Has the Railway Board Approved Final Location Surveys for Two New Lines in K’taka?

Synopsis
The Railway Board's approval of Final Location Surveys for two new railway lines in Karnataka is a game-changer for regional connectivity. With strategic significance in enhancing trade routes and improving access to critical resources, these initiatives are set to transform the rail landscape in the state.
Key Takeaways
- Railway Board approved two new railway lines in Karnataka.
- Almatti-Yadgir line enhances connectivity with major economic corridors.
- Bhadravathi-Chikjajur line supports industrial growth and freight movement.
- Total cost for surveys is Rs 5.875 crore.
- Initiatives aim to improve regional trade and access to resources.
Bengaluru, May 15 (NationPress) In a crucial move to enhance rail infrastructure in Karnataka, the Railway Board has given the green light for Final Location Surveys (FLS) for two significant new railway lines within the South Western Railway (SWR) zone, as stated in an official announcement on Thursday.
The first proposed line stretches 162 km from Almatti to Yadgir, with a sanctioned survey budget of Rs 4.05 crore.
The second survey, with a cost of Rs 1.825 crore, will cover a 73-kilometre route between Bhadravathi and Chikjajur through Channagiri.
In total, these surveys represent an estimated expenditure of Rs 5.875 crore.
This project is a pivotal first step in the planning and execution of essential railway initiatives designed to improve connectivity throughout the central and northern regions of the state.
The suggested Almatti-Yadgir line is strategically important as it seeks to enhance links between northern Karnataka and major economic highways, according to the announcement.
Almatti, recognized for its dam and hydroelectric power production, plays a vital role in the local agriculture and energy sectors, while Yadgir stands as a significant junction in the Hyderabad-Mumbai rail corridor.
Enhanced rail connectivity between these locations is expected to stimulate regional commerce, mobility, and access to vital resources.
Similarly, the Bhadravathi-Chikjajur line will bolster intra-state connectivity in central Karnataka.
Bhadravathi, an industrial hub hosting steel and paper industries, will gain direct access to Chikjajur, a key railway junction that links various areas of Karnataka. This line is anticipated to facilitate freight transportation, industrial expansion, and improved passenger connectivity in the vicinity.
On another note, Union Minister of State for Railways, V. Somanna, inaugurated the Gadag-Wadi Railway project in Koppal on Thursday.
This initiative will enhance railway connectivity among the Mumbai, Karnataka, and Kalyana Karnataka regions.
Union Minister Somanna expressed that the diligent efforts of Congress MLA and CM's Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy have borne fruit, attributing this progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This railway project originated during the tenure of Rajya Sabha Member and JD (S) National President H. D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister. Under the leadership of former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the National Highways were expanded nationwide. During PM Narendra Modi's administration, remarkable accomplishments have been made in Indian Railways, he highlighted.