The Hindu Business Line : Gadag-Bagalkot section of SW Railway opened

With the completion of gauge conversion work between Gadag and Bagalkot, the section will serve as an alternative route to Solapur connecting Pune-Wadie main line.

Our Bureau

Mangalore, Dec. 7

The newly converted broad-gauge section between Gadag and Bagalkot was thrown open for passenger and freight traffic on Saturday.

The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, and the Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr R.Velu, jointly inaugurated the section for traffic at Gadag station of South Western Railway (SWR) zone.

On the occasion, Mr Velu sought the cooperation of the Karnataka Government in acquiring land for railway projects.

A press release by the South Western Railway (SWR) zone said here that opening of the entire section of the broad-gauge line between Gadag and Bagalkot (94 km) will accelerate the progress in the development of the area and connect important tourist places such as Bijapur, Bagalkot, Almatti, Badami, Pattadkal and Aihole. New station buildings have been constructed at Guledagudda, Badami, Hole-Alur, Mallapur, Balaganur and Hombal. The section between Gadag and Bagalkot has seven crossing stations, three halt stations, 31 minor bridges and six major bridges.

With the completion of gauge conversion work between Gadag and Bagalkot, the section will serve as an alternative route to Solapur connecting Pune-Wadie main line on Central Railway.

The 284-km metre-gauge line between Hotgi (Solapur) and Gadag was built in 1894. The total gauge conversion was sanctioned in 1995 and the work commenced from Solapur.

While the 95-km stretch between Solapur and Bijapur was commissioned in 1998, the stretch between Bijapur and Bagalkot (95 km) was commissioned in 2007. The last link of the section from Bagalkot to Gadag (94 km) was opened on Saturday.

The total project was sanctioned at Rs 183.89 crore and the same was revised to Rs 275.4 crore in 2002. The cost was further revised in February 2008 for Rs 373.81 crore.