Prime Minister Inaugurates Much Awaited Bidar-Kalburgi Railway Line

Bidar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated new railway line between Bidar and Kalburgi to the nation in an event organised at Bidar in Karnataka on Sunday. Prime Minister also flagged off the first train between two stations.

Addressing the gathering, prime minister described how the previous government was suffering from policy paralysis to complete the much awaited railway line. He added that development projects stalled since the Congress rule are being completed now. Congress only believed in ‘Atkana’, Latkana’ and ‘Bhatkana’. “Infrastructure plays a major role in taking the nation to greater heights. India needs the best railways, roadways, airways and waterways,” prime minister said.

The new railway line will reduce a distance of 380 kilometer between New Delhi and South Indian states once train services begin on the new route. The railway line is expected to attract industries into Hyderabad Karnataka region which could result in overall development of Northern portion of the state.

The new railway line covers a distance of 104 kilometer including a 2 kilometer long underground tunnel. There are 13 railway stations exists between Bidar and Kalburgi stations. The railway route completed at a cost of Rs 1,542 crore against the previous estimate of Rs 369.7 crore.

The railway line took 16 years to complete its works against proposed duration of 5 years after then Union Railway Minister Bangaru Laxman laid foundation stone for the project in 2000. 

Delay in land acquisition, hurdles faced during the construction of the railway line, lack of availability of financial support on time and others prevented the project to complete as projected earlier.