SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY
Press Release No. 37 Dt. 15.06.2018
FLAGGING OFF OF RAIL BUS on NEW RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN BAGALKOT AND KHAJJIDONI
A landmark development for the region of North Karnataka took place on 15thJune, 2018. The first stretch of 30 km upto Khajjidoni in the Bagalkot - Kudachi New Railway line is commissioned and train services have been introduced upto Khajjidoni. The project will be of great help to Bagalkot and Belagavi districts once completed.
Shri P.C. Gaddigoudar, Hon’ble MP, Bagalkot today along with other dignitaries flagged off the inaugural run of the Rail Bus services between Bagalkot and Khajjidoni from Bagalkot Railway Station at 11.00 hrs.
Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble MP, thanked the Ministry of Railways for starting the train services between Bagalkot and Kajjidoni. He however requested Railways for early completion of the rest of the Project uptoKudachi. Shri V.C. Charantimath, Hon’ble MLA, Bagalkot & Shri MurugeshNirani, Hon’ble MLA, Bilgi graced the occasion and spoke to the public. Shri S.R. Patil, Shri Arun Shahapur, Hon’ble MLCs were also present and spoke to the occasion.
Salient Features of the Bagalkot – Khajjidoni Project
Bagalkot - Kudachi New Railway line (142 Km) project was sanctioned in 2010 -11 at a cost of Rs.986 Cr. and has been taken up under 50:50 cost sharing basis between Govt. of Karnataka & Ministry of Railways. In addition, the cost of land acquisition is being borne by State Government. This line serves Bagalkot and Belagavi Districts. Railway being most energy efficient transport mode will open up new avenues of development in Bagalkot District.
| 1. | District Served | : | Bagalkot. |
| 2. | Length of Bagalkot – Khajjidoni line | : | 30 km |
| 3. | Cost of the Project upto - Khajjidoni | : | Rs.278 Cr (approx.) |
| 4. | Number of Bridges | : | 93 Nos |
| | i) Major Bridges | : | 06 Nos |
| | ii) Minor Bridges | : | 54 Nos |
| | iii) Road Under Bridge | : | 33 nos. |
| 5. | Permanent Way | : | 60 kg rails with sleeper density of 1660 |
| 6. | Standard of Signaling | : | Multiple Aspect Colour Light Signal |
| 7. | No. of Stations | : | 02 Crossing stations (Bagalkot &Khajjidoni), 04 Halt stations: (Navanagar, Sulikeri, Kerakalmatti&Hireshellikeri). |
| 8. | This section is constructed without any en-route Level crossing gates. |
Regular Rail Bus services will start from 18.06.2018 (Monday to Friday) on either direction as per the following Time table.
| 76901 Bagalkot – Khajjidoni | Station | 76902 Khajjidoni – Bagalkot |
| Departure 07:45 | Bagalkot | Arrival 11:45 |
| Arr. 07.55 | Dep. 07.56 | Navanagar | Arr. 11.31 | Dep. 11.32 |
| Arr. 08.19 | Dep. 08.20 | Sullikkeri | Arr. 11.19 | Dep.11.20 |
| Arr. 08:37 | Dep.08:38 | Keralamatti | Arr. 10.58 | Dep.10.59 |
| Arr. 08:55 | Dep.08:56 | Hireshellikeri | Arr. 10.30 | Dep.10.31 |
| Arr. 09:15 | Dep.09:16 | Chikkashellikeri | Arr. 10.17 | Dep. 10.18 |
| Arrival 09.30 | Khajjidoni | Departure 10:00 |
Social Impact
Historically, Badami which is part of Bagalkot was the capital of the Chalukya empire. Remnants of Chalukyan art and architecture are important tourist attractions in Bagalkot District. The new railway line connects following places of tourist importance of North Karnataka, viz. Badami (Famous cave temple), Pattadakallu(UNESCO World Heritage Site), Aihole(the erstwhile capital of Chalukya Kingdom with as many as 125 temples dating back to 5thcentury AD), KoodalaSangama(Samadhi of 12th-century social reformist Basavanna known for his crusade against caste exploitation), Gokak Falls and Kittur(Palace of Rani Chennamma).
Similarly the important places like Bagalkot, Lokapur, Yadwad, Mudhol, Jamkhandi, JagdalHarugeri and Kudachi will be connected by extension of line further uptoKudachi resulting in easy movement of passengers and goods. This railway line will open up historical and heritage tourist potential of the region.
Economic Impact:
The focus sectors in this area are
·Agriculture
·Cement
·Sugar based industries
·Silk &handloom industries
Opening this new rail line will benefit above sectors as under
·Hinterland agricultural products can be transported using rail network
·Farmers will be benefitted by flourishing dairy, sericulture and floriculture streams.
·Mineral wealth of district will be tapped .There are rich Rich lime stone deposits in and around Lokapur.
·Sugar and Cement factories in the region will get boosted.
·Weavers will get increased avenues for marketing handlooms
·Investment on this project will result in increased employment opportunities and generation of infrastructure in this hitherto backward district of Karnataka
·Originating Rail traffic on new line includes Cement, Lime stone, Sugar due to industries located in this line.
·Terminating traffic will be of coal, slag, fly ash and Fertilizer.
This new line will be of immense benefit to this part of North Karnataka by improving connectivity thereby contributing to overall socio economic development of the region.
(E. Vijaya)
Chief Public Relations Officer
South Western railway, Hubballi
