First train on Gadag-Wadi railway line runs today
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Kushtagi (Koppal): The historic
Gadag-Wadi railway line
, extending 257km with a budget of Rs 2,841.8 crore, will begin operations on Thursday, fulfilling a long-awaited expectation.Of the total length, 56.1km was completed, while 201km remains pending.
V Somanna, minister of state for railways, will launch the first passenger train service from Hubballi to Kushtagi at Kushtagi station.As of March 31, 2025, the Karnataka govt contributed Rs 489.9 crores to the project. The Gadag-Wadi project represents a crucial railway infrastructure development to improve connectivity in North Karnataka.Origin in 1911The project's origins trace back to 1911, when the Nizam of Hyderabad and the British Indian govt showed interest. The initial cost was Rs 1.86 crore. Former MP Basavaraj Rayareddy facilitated the project's revival in 1996 after numerous delays. A 1998 survey estimated costs at Rs 457.7 crore and a subsequent survey in 2009 led to the project's inclusion in the 2013-14 Railway Budget, receiving parliamentary approval.Manjunath Kanamadi, the public relations officer for South Western Railway, said the project is being executed in phases, including the 22km stretch from Talkal to Sangnal, 13km from Sangnal to Hanumapur, 10.7km from Hanumapur to Linganbandi and 10.1km from Linganbandi to Kushtagi, with a total of 56.1km already completed.The commissioning of the completed 56.1km length involves some political dynamics. Basavaraj Rayareddy, the MLA from Yalburga and economic advisor to the chief minister, reached out to railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, delivering a letter from CM Siddaramaiah, to promote the Gadag-Wadi passenger train service originating from his constituency."I am happy to announce that the 60-km route from Gadag-Talkal-Kustagi and the 45-km route from Wadi to Shahapur are now ready for service. In light of the significant backing from the state govt, I propose that the inauguration be held in Yelburga," Siddaramaiah wrote in a letter dated March 25.Basavaraj Kyavater, a member of the BJP state executive and closely connected to Somanna, organised the event in Kushtagi. This left Rayareddy disheartened, leading him to refrain from making statements or claiming credit for the completed railway lines.Kyaveter told TOI that while the daily timetable for the Kushtagi-Hubballi train is yet to be finalised, it is anticipated to be ready within two days, with one passenger train scheduled to run daily during the initial phase.
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