Railways growth on track in State

Connectivity to go up by 28.2 km for every 1,000 sq km

According to a recent study by the State Infrastructure Development Department, the State’s railway network will go up to 28.2 km for every 1,000 sq km area against the present 16.9 km. Similarly, 10.3 km of rail network will be available for every 1 lakh population against the present 6.2 km on completion of these projects.
Presently, all the neighbouring States are far ahead of Karnataka in terms of railway infrastructure facilities. The State has just 3,250 km of railway network, including all gauges. Andhra Pradesh has 5,172 km, Tamil Nadu 4,131 km and Maharastra has 5,535 km.

As many as 10 new railway line projects, including Kottur-Harihar, Gulbarga-Bidar, Munirabad-Mehaboobnagar, covering nearly 1,868 km, two gauge conversion projects covering 625 km and eight doubling projects including Bangalore-Mysore covering 249 km are being implemented in the State. Six of these projects have been taken up on a cost sharing basis.
Poor railway connectivity has been the State government’s biggest grouse. This, according to official sources has adversely impacted the State’s economic development. Improper railway connectivity has had a bad effect on the development of ports.

Though efforts of the successive State governments to secure more projects from the Indian Railways are now yielding results, the State would continue to lag behind when compared to the neighbouring States in terms of electrification of routes.
The State has just 138 km (4.2 per cent) of electrified railway line, while Andhra Pradesh has 46.5 per cent, Tamil Nadu has 28.4 per cent and Maharastra has 37.3 per cent. As many as 51.4 per cent of railway line in Kerala is electrified. Presently, only three electrification projects, covering 347 km including Bangalore-Mysore, have been taken up in the State.

“Karnataka will almost be at par with its neighbouring states in terms of railway infrastructure in about five years. However, lot more needs to be done with respect to electrification of existing lines, modernisation of stations and other facilities. Besides, there is a need for providing efficient rail connectivity to ports,” Principal Secretary to State Infrastructure Development Department V Madhu said.

Ongoing projects New lines
*Kottur-Harihar  - 67 km
*Kadur-Chikmagalur - 93 km
*Hassan-Bangalore  - 166 km
*Hubli-Ankola  - 167 km
*Bangalore-Satyamangalam via Kanakapura - 260 km
*Munirabad-Raichur  - 170 km
*Gadwal-Raichur  - 22 km
*Bangalore-Kadapa - 244.4 km
*Bidar-Gulbarga - 106 km
*Raydurga-Tumkur - 130 km

Gauge conversion
*Shimoga-Talaguppa - 97 km
*Kolar-Chikkaballapur - 95 km (Doubling)
*Dharwad-Kambargani - 26.2 km
*Hubli-Hebsur  - 18.7 km
*Arsikere-Birur  - 44 km
*Ramanagar-Mysore - 94 km
*Bangalore-K R Puram-White Field - 23 km
*Yelahanka-Channasandra - 12.9 km
*Yeshwanthpur-Yelahanka - 12 km
*Kankanadi-Panamburu -
19 km