**Executive Summary**
The document details the status of new railway projects sanctioned for Karnataka since 2017. It includes the allocation of funds, number of projects sanctioned, completed and those delayed. It also provides an overview of land acquisition status for railway projects in the region. The information was requested by Shri Sunil Bose and Shri Jagadish Shettar and is to be answered on 10.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Sanction & Budget:**
* The Dharwad - Belgaum (Balagavi) via Kittur new line project (73 km) was sanctioned on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis, with land provided free by the Government of Karnataka.
* Budget allocation for railway projects in Karnataka has increased significantly since 2009-14.
* Budget allocation in 2025-26: ₹7,564 crore (more than 9 times of previous)
* As of 01.04.2025, 25 projects (15 new lines, 10 doubling) of 3,264 km length, costing ₹42,517 crore have been sanctioned in Karnataka.
* **Project Status & Expenditure (As of Mar'25):**
* New Line Projects: 15 sanctioned, total length 2,034 km, 421 km commissioned, expenditure ₹8,794 crore.
* Doubling/Multitracking Projects: 10 sanctioned, total length 1,230 km, 973 km commissioned, expenditure ₹12,516 crore.
* Total Projects: 25 sanctioned, total length 3,264 km, 1,394 km commissioned, expenditure ₹21,310 crore.
* **Completed Projects:**
* Includes projects like Hassan-Bangalore new line (167 km), costing ₹1,290 crore and Hubli - Chikjajur doubling (190 km), costing ₹1,850 crore, among others.
* **Ongoing Projects:**
* Includes Hospet - Hubli - Londa - Vasco - de - Gama doubling (312 km), estimated to cost ₹4,153 crore and Ginigera - Raichur new line (165 km), estimated to cost ₹3,401 crore, among others.
* **Land Acquisition:**
* In the last three years and current financial year, 65 surveys (25 new lines and 40 doubling) covering 7,239 km have been sanctioned.
* Major delayed projects include Shimoga – Rannebennur new line (96 km) and Belgaum - Dharwad new line (73 km), primarily due to land acquisition delays.
* Total land required for projects in Karnataka: 9,020 ha.
* Land acquired: 5,679 ha (63%).
* Balance land to be acquired: 3,341 ha (37%).
* **Factors Affecting Project Completion:**
* Completion depends on factors such as land acquisition, forest clearance, shifting of utilities, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and working months.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Karnataka (GoK)**
* **Impact:** The GoK is a key stakeholder, responsible for providing land free of cost for the projects. Delays in land acquisition by GoK is holding up projects.
* **Action Required:** Expedite land acquisition processes to ensure timely completion of railway projects.
**Ministry of Railways/Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Accountable for sanctioning and executing railway projects, including managing funds and coordinating with the GoK.
* **Action Required:** Monitor project progress, address delays related to land acquisition and other factors, and ensure efficient resource allocation.
**Citizens of Karnataka**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of improved railway infrastructure, connectivity, and economic development. Delays impact access to better transport.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of railway projects in their region and provide feedback to relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The central entity responsible for railway projects mentioned in the document.
Karnataka: The Indian state where the new railway projects are located.
Belagavi-Kittur Dharwar new railway line: A specific railway line project for which status and timeline are requested.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1625
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
NEW RAILWAY PROJECTS FOR KARNATAKA
1625. SHRI SUNIL BOSE:
SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of new railway projects sanctioned for Karnataka
since 2017, zone and year-wise;
(b) the number of projects out of the above that are under progress,
the amount spent thereon so far and the project-wise steps
taken/being taken by the Government to complete these on
time;
(c) the number of railway projects in Karnataka that have been
surveyed and approved but the work of the said projects has not
yet started;
(d) the latest status of Belagavi-Kittur Dharwar new railway line
and the timeline for completion of the said line; and
(e) whether estimated costs of the projects has been increased due
to the delay and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): Dharwad – Belgaum (Balagavi) via Kittur new line project
…2/--2-
(73 km) has been sanctioned on 50:50 cost sharing basis and land to
be provided free of cost by Government of Karnataka (GoK). The
project is held up on account of delay in land acquisition by State
Government of Karnataka.
Karnataka:-
Budget allocation in the recent years has increased significantly.
Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling
fully/partly in the State of Karnataka is as under:
Period Outlay
2009-14 ₹835 crore/year
2025-26 ₹7,564 crore (more than 9 times)
As on 01.04.2025, 25 projects (15 new lines, 10 doubling) of 3,264 km
length, costing ₹ 42,517 crore falling fully/partly in Karnataka are
sanctioned. The summary is as under:-
Category No of Total Length Exp
sanctioned Length Commissioned upto Mar'25
Projects (in km) Upto Mar'25 (km) (₹ in cr.)
New Line 15 2,034 421 8,794
Doubling/
10 1,230 973 12,516
Multitracking
Total 25 3,264 1,394 21,310
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
Karnataka are as under :
S. No Project Cost
(₹in Crores)
1 Kottur-Harihar new line (65 km) 468
…3/--3-
2 Hassan-Bangalore new line (167 km) 1,290
3 Bidar-Gulbarga new line (110 km) 1,543
4 Shivani-Hosadurga Road doubling (10 km) 50
5 Shivani-Birur Doubling (29 km) 143
6 Hosadurga-Chikjajur doubling (29 km) 260
7 Ramanagram-Mysore patch doubling (94 km) 998
8 Yelahanka – Chennasadra doubling (13 km) 108
9 Yeshwantpur - Yelahanka doubling (12 km) 95
10 Netrawati-Mangalore Central doubling (2 km) 28
11 Kankanadi-Panambur doubling (19 km) 350
12 Arsikere-Tumkur doubling (96 km) 758
13 Yelahanka - Penukonda doubling (123 km) 1,104
14 Daund - Gulbarga doubling (225 km) 3,182
15 Hubli - Chikjajur doubling (190 km) 1,850
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in Karnataka which have been
taken up are as under:
S Cost
Project
No. (₹ in Crores)
1 Hospet - Hubli - Londa - Vasco - de - Gama 4,153
doubling (312 km)
2 Hotgi-Gadag doubling (284 km) 2,459
3 Ginigera - Raichur new line (165 km) 3,401
4 Gadag - Wadi new line (257 km) 2,842
5 Bagalkot – Kudachi new line (142 km) 1,649
6 Tumkur – Rayadurga new line (207 km) 2,496
7 Tumkur – Davangere new line (182 km) 2,142
8 Kadur – Chikmagalur – Belur new line 825
(68 km)
9 Baiyyapanahalli – Hosur doubling (48 km) 336
10 Yeshwanthpur – Channasandra doubling 314
(22 km)
…4/--4-
In last three years i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and current financial
year 2025-26, 65 surveys (25 new line and 40 doubling) covering a total
length of 7,239 km has been sanctioned falling fully/partly in the State
of Karnataka.
Details of some major projects which are delayed due to land
acquisition are as under:-
Total Land Balance
Land acquired Land to
S
Project required (in ha) be
No.
(in ha) acquired
(in ha)
1 Shimoga – Rannebennur new line
559 226 333
(96 km)
2 Belgaum – Dharwad new line
581 0 581
(73 km)
3 Shimoga – Harihar new line
488 0 488
(79 km)
4 Whitefield-Kolar new line (53 km) 337 0 337
5 Hassan-Belur new line (32 km) 206 0 206
Summary of the status of land acquisition in Karnataka is as under:-
Total Land required for Projects in Karnataka 9,020 ha
Land Acquired 5,679 ha (63%)
Balance Land to be acquired 3,341 ha (37%)
Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however
success depends upon the support of Government of Karnataka.
…5/--5-
Sanction of any railway project depend upon many parameters/factors
which include the following:
Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the
proposed route
First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
Connection of missing links and providing additional route
Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public
representatives
Railway’s own operational requirements
Socio-economic considerations
Overall availability of funds
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which
include the following:
Land acquisition by State Government
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for particular project site
etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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