Almatti-Kushtagi new railway line DPR ready by May ’26

Hubballi: The much-awaited field survey of the Almatti-Kushtagi new railway line has been completed. The railway ministry assured that the detailed project report (DPR) would be ready by May 2026.MPs Ramesh Jigajinagi from Vijayapura and PC Gaddigoudar from Bagalkot demanded a new line between Almatti and Kushtagi, writing letters to Union minister Pralhad Joshi. Joshi took up this matter with the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. In response to the demand, the railway minister, in his letter addressed to the union minister Joshi on Wednesday, clarified that the survey work for the Almatti-Kushtagi new railway line was already completed and the DPR of the new line between Almatti and Kushtagi would be prepared by the end of May 2026.Sources said the work on implementing the new Alamatti-Kushtagi line is expected to start by the end of 2026 after completing all tender processes. The 91-km line will originate at Almatti on the Gadag-Hotagi line, connect Kushtagi on the Gadag-Wadi line, and pass through Kudalsangama, Hungund, and Ilkal, said a source.Veeresh Bangarshettar, president, Kushtagi Railway Horat Samiti, told TOI that the proposed Almatti-Kushtagi line is likely to improve railway connectivity across central and northern Karnataka. It will reduce the existing distance between Koppal and Vijayapura or Bagalkot by road. If a stop is provided at Kudalsangama in the future, it will also help people reach Kudalasangama, Badami, and other religious and tourist places easily.People of Kushtagi and other surrounding districts are now travelling to Bengaluru via Gadag or Hospet, but we are demanding a direct train from Kushtagi to Bengaluru. In the absence of a direct train, people travel to Talkal junction to travel to Bangalore. Now, there is only one direct train to Hubballi from Kushtagi, and more direct trains should be introduced to other cities. The work on the proposed Almatti and Kushtagi line should start without dragging it for years and be completed at the earliest, he said.KM Maheshwara Swamy, president, Karnataka State Railway Action Committee, said that the Almatti-Chitradurga via Munirabad line proposal is still pending before the railway ministry, but it is not clear whether the Almatti-Kushtagi new line is part of that project or a new one, so the railway board should clarify it.The proposed Almatti-Kushtagi new line will become more feasible if it is extended up to Munirabad, as it will help people of Ballari, Koppal, Vijayapura, and Bagalkot to travel to Bengaluru and Mysuru directly instead of travelling via Gadag or Hosapete. It will also improve connectivity to Solapur, Bengaluru, and other cities. It will boost trade, industry, and tourism activities and also reduce the travel distance to Bengaluru and other places, he said.Sources said more train connectivity in this region could help farmers and traders to have a direct link with buyers to promote their produce like paddy, onion, cotton, and granite in big cities like Bengaluru.