Belagavi Railway Infrastructure Gets a Boost as Minister V. Somanna Launches New Projects.

Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna announced on Monday that the central government is fully funding approximately 300 road over bridges (ROB) and road under bridges (RUB) across Karnataka to improve railway infrastructure.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for an RUB at the Fourth Railway Gate in Anagol, Belagavi, the minister said several such projects are currently underway in Belagavi, Hubballi, and Dharwad, including two RUBs in Belagavi's Tilakwadi.

Later in the evening, Somanna also laid the foundation for an RUB at the Khanapur Railway Station Yard and flagged off the Hubballi–Dadar Central Express, which will now have an additional stop in Khanapur.

Upgrades and New Projects

Somanna detailed the significant investment in the state's railway system. Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, the number of modernized railway stations in Karnataka has increased from 61 to 66, backed by a central grant of ₹2,000 crore. Belagavi district alone has sanctioned station upgrades for:

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  Ghataprabha: ₹18.5 crore

  
  


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  Raibag: ₹18.6 crore

  
  


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  Belagavi: ₹15 crore

  
  


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  Gokak: ₹17 crore

  
  

Addressing the long-pending Belagavi–Dharwad railway line via Kittur, the minister confirmed that tenders have been floated. While 100% of the land acquisition in Belagavi district is complete, 45 acres in Dharwad are still pending due to technical issues and a lack of cooperation from the district's minister, Santosh Lad. "I will make another attempt to speak with minister Santosh Lad," Somanna said. The project has a budget of ₹937 crore, and work is expected to begin soon.

In a surprise announcement, Somanna hinted at the possibility of introducing a sleeper coach Vande Bharat train between Belagavi and Bengaluru, citing strong public demand. He acknowledged that the existing Vande Bharat Express between the two cities has faced criticism over its inconvenient timings, leading to calls for an alternative service.