Belagavi, March 27: The proposed 73-km Belagavi-Dharwad railway line via Kittur has hit a major hurdle, with no land transferred to the Railways by the Karnataka government as of January 2026.
For more details : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/belagavidharwad-rail-project-stalled-over-land-transfer/articleshow/129830910.cms
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that the project requires 581 hectares, but not a single hectare has been handed over so far. The delay reflects a broader issue in Karnataka, where land acquisition continues to slow down railway development.
Out of 9,064 hectares required for ongoing railway projects in the state, around 3,357 hectares (37%) are still pending. Several key projects, including Shivamogga-Ranebennur, Shivamogga-Harihar, Whitefield-Kolar, and Hassan-Belur, are also facing delays due to land issues.
Despite these challenges, the Centre has significantly increased funding for railway infrastructure in Karnataka, with the 2025–26 allocation rising to Rs 7,564 crore. Currently, 25 railway projects worth Rs 42,517 crore are underway, of which Rs 21,310 crore has already been spent and 1,394 km of rail network completed.
The Centre reiterated that while funding and execution readiness are in place, timely land acquisition, forest clearances, and statutory approvals by the state government remain crucial for completing projects on schedule.
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