The long-pending demand of the people of Bagalkot district has been fulfilled, with the sanctioning of the Kudchi-Bagalkot rail route in this year’s Railway Budget.
The demand for Kudchi-Bagalkot rail route has a hundred-years history. In 1894, the East India Company had for the first time proposed the project for the Kudchi-Bagalkot rail route. Later, in 1912, in 1920 and in 1993, a survey was conducted for the implementation of this project. However, the project was shelved, attributing to a report which stated that the Railway Department would not generate expected income on this route.
Later on, the people of Bagalkot district launched a struggle for the sanctioning of the rail route, under the State Broadguage Railway Action Committee and brought pressure on the Railway minister. Thus, in 2007, another survey was conducted by a committee, which submitted a report that the Kudchi-Bagalkot rail route would be contributing more than 18 per cent revenue to the Railways.
Encouraged by the response, the State Broadguage Railway Action Committee, under the leadership of Qutubuddin Khaji, converted the struggle into a people’s agitation in the district. The Action Committee members travelled to Delhi several times and tried to convince former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, present Railway Minister Mamtha Banerjee and State Minister for Railways K H Muniyappa.
Bagalkot MP P C Gaddigoudar and other Congress leaders also extended their support to the cause and thus, the proposal received a green signal in the present Budget. The 141 km-route will begin from Bagalkot and pass through Navanagar, Gaddanakeri, Kaladagi, Mudhol, Jamkhandi, Rabakavi-Banahatti, Terdal and reach Kudchi railway station in Raibag taluk of Belgaum district.
As per the survey, an amount of Rs 456.7 crore has been estimated to be the construction cost. There are 12 sugar factories and five cement factories in the district.
Apart from this, the new rail route will be beneficial for the export of granite, iron ore and horticultural produce which are exported from this place. MP P C Gaddigoudar has expressed his happiness.
Apart from the prominent rail route, the green signal for the upgrading of the Bagalkot railway station and also the sanctioning of another Passenger train between Bagalkot-Gadag has brought happiness to the people of Bagalkot.
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