BENGALURU: Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil on Wednesday said that the 257 km Gadag- Wadi railway work would be completed by March 2026.
He stated this while he chaired two separate progress review meetings on important railway projects of Gadag-Wadi and Bagalkote-Kuduchi in the North Karnataka region.
“State government and the Railway department, each will be bearing 50 per cent of the Gadag-Wadi project which is estimated to cost Rs.1,922 crores. Lands to an extent of 3,945 acres have already been handed over out of the required 4,002 acres. The remaining 57 acres will be made available within one month,” the Minister explained.
The track already exists between Gadag and Talakal along this route. Works up to Hanumapura have been completed between the 57 KM stretch from Talakal to Kushtagi.
The works up to Kushtagi would be accomplished by March 2024 and later trial runs would be commenced, Patil informed.
“From the other side, works are being in progress between Wadi and Shorapura,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yalaburga MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy sought to ensure quality in the works. Then, MB Patil instructed the railway officials who were in the meeting to be cautious about adhering to quality standards and to conduct quality tests by sending inspection teams to work sites.
He also directed the officials not to give any room for stretching the project period beyond March 2026.
Speaking about the other project, he said, “The 142 KM Bagalakote- Kuduchi project which is also in progress is estimated to cost Rs 1,530 crores. Lands to an extent of 2,476 acres have been handed over out of the required 2,496 acres and the remaining 20 acres will be provided soon The works of the project will be completed by December 2025.”
The works of about 60 KM from Bagalakote-Khachchidoni- Lokapura would be completed by March 2024 and trains would begin operations after this. The tendering process has been completed to take up work from the Kuduxgu side. The work between Kuduchi and Jagadal will be initiated soon. (ANI)
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