‘Steps to reduce the duration of Bengaluru-Vijayapura train journey’, says M B Patil
Bengaluru: Minister for Infrastructure Development M B Patil said that the railway officials have been convinced to reduce the duration of Bangalore-Bagalkota-Vijayapura train journey from 14 hours to 10 hours. He was addressing the media at Khanija Bhavana, Bengaluru, on Friday after a meeting with the officials of Department of Infrastructure Development and the Southwestern Railway to discuss on the slow progress of 9 cost sharing railway projects in the state.
Stressing on how the reduced duration of journeys will benefit the people of Southwestern part of the state visiting Bengaluru, M B Patil said that the 660 km long Bengaluru-Vijayapura train journey took a tiresome 14 hours to complete because of unnecessary delays at Hubli and Gadag stations. “The changing of engines in Hubli takes 45 minutes and similar delays occur in Gadag”, he complained. He wanted a new route plan to be put in place where the trains travelled via Hubli (South) Bypass and Gadag Bypass to reduce the time taken.
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“Bangalore-Hubli-Bagalkota has a dual lane. The dual lane between Bagalkota-Vijayapura has been almost completed till Alamatti. It shall be over by October, this year. The 9 km long track between Alamatti-Vandal is still pending as there is a bridge work to be done here. This will be completed by August 2025. The electrification of this lane will be over in next two months”, Patil stated.
Stressing on the necessity of running special trains to Vijayapura and Bagalkota from Bengaluru, M B Patil said that the railway board would be requested to start ‘Vande Bharat Express’ train service between the cities, once the electrification works were over. He asked the officials to finish the 9 cost sharing railway projects in state faster as the delays were resulting in increased expenses. “Among the projects, Munirabad-Mehbub Nagar project must be done by March 2026, Tumkur-Rayadurga project by December 2027, Chikkamagaluru-Beluru project by 2026 and Bagalkota-Kudachi project should be done by 2027”, he told them.
“The land acquisition for Tumkur-Davangere project is all done. The state funds only the single lane of this work. It is really good that the railway department has already decided to lay a double lane. This must be completed by 2027. It will definitely ease the travel between Bagalkota and Vijayapura”, M B Patil added.
The Minister drew attention to a snag in the land acquisition process at Halakatte in the Gadag-Wadi lane where the RTC was owned by one but occupied by another. He assured that the district collector was informed about this and the issue would be resolved soon.
Secretary for the Department of Infrastructure Dr N Manjula, Managing Director of Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Satheesh, Administrative Officer of Southwestern Railways Ramgopal, Chief Engineer of Railway Planning Cell Murthi Raju and Technical Advisor to Infrastructure Minister Aravinda Galagali were present.
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Bengaluru second airport: Tender floated for feasibility, strategy report, says Minister Patil
Bengaluru, Mar 20 (PTI): Karnataka Infrastructure Minister M B Patil on Friday said that the government has floated a tender to prepare a detailed feasibility and strategy report for a proposed second international airport near Bengaluru.
He said officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have conducted site inspections of three shortlisted locations on the city's outskirts and have flagged several aspects, including challenges associated with these sites.
Taking to social media platform 'X', the minister said that a tender has been floated to prepare a detailed strategy and feasibility report. Three to four firms have participated in the bidding process, which is expected to be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Further decisions will be taken based on the reports submitted by these firms, he added.
"After selecting three sites, we called the AAI, and their officials visited all three locations. They pointed out the challenges at each site. To overcome and address those issues, we have called for a tender," he told reporters here.
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The state government had shortlisted three locations -- two on Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road in Nelamangala.
"Once the report comes, including details on the challenges, we will move forward. Then we have to examine the viability of the project. This exercise is mainly to address the challenges at those sites -- such as hilly terrain and other issues that may be difficult to handle," Patil said.
Though viability is a smaller part of this stage, the minister said that ultimately, once that process is complete, the state cabinet will take a decision.
"So it is not at a final stage yet; it is still in process and will take time. The feasibility and related studies may take another three to four months or possibly more," he added.
According to him, the proposed new airport is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the rapidly growing air traffic demand in Bengaluru and in safeguarding Karnataka's long-term aviation and economic interests.
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