Dharwad-Kittur Belgaum New Rail Line | Dharwad to Belgaum New Railway Line
Dharwad-Kittur Belgaum New Rail Line | Dharwad to Belgaum New Railway Line
NEW RAILWAY LINE CONNECTING BELAGAVI AND DHARWAD VIA KITTUR (73 KM) SANCTIONED
Railway Board has today communicated sanction to Belagavi – Dharwad via Kittur New Railway Line project (73 Km) at a cost of Rs.927.40 Crs approx. This was a long pending demand from the local representatives and Public of the regions Belagavi and Dharwad. The genesis of this demand is need for a shorter train route between Dharwad and Belagavi.
The present Rail connectivity between these two important cities through Londa junction is a circuitous route and is taking almost 3 hours. With this new line, the distance between the 3 important cities Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi will reduce resulting in significant development of these regions. The running time of trains between Hubballi to Belagavi will reduce as a result. The new line via Kittur will not only reduce the travel time, but will also improve connectivity to places along the Pune – Bengaluru national highway.
Shri Suresh Angadi, Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways understanding the importance of this Project has taken keen interest to get this project cleared by Railway Board. This new line will connect important places like Kittur, M.K.Hubballi and Bagewadi. The distance between Belagavi and Dharwad will reduce by 31 Kms once this new line is laid. Hon’ble MoSR has envisaged that once this line is complete the 3 smart cities will be industrial triangle resulting in further improvement of economy of this region. This new line will benefit the public of Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi, making the journey between these three cities easier and quicker.
Eleven stations are planned between Dharwad and Belagavi which include 4 stations are already available. Dharwad (Exg), Kyarakoppo (Exg), Mammigatti, Teguru, Kittur, Hulikatti, M. K. Hubballi, Bagewadi, Kanvikarvinkoppa, Desur (Exg.) & Belagavi(Exg.)
The department wise breakup of the cost of the project is as under:
Civil Engineering: Rs.755.69 Cr
Electrical: Rs.25.93 Cr
Electrification: Rs.67.79 Cr
Signal & Telecommunication: Rs.77.99 Cr
Total: Rs.927.40 Cr
For this new line State Govt. has committed to provide land free of cost and share cost of construction in view of upcoming Industrial corridor of Belagavi – Kittur – Dharwad. Land for the project will be handed over to Railways free of cost by the State Govt. of Karnataka and Railway share is chargeable to Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR-IF).
Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, GM/SWR has said that Railway and State Govt. are working in co-ordination for easy connectivity and development of this state and this proposed railway line will be significant milestone.
Here’s the most up-to-date information about the new Dharwad–Kittur–Belagavi (formerly Belgaum) railway line, which will significantly enhance rail connectivity in North Karnataka:
Contents
🛤️ Project Overview: Dharwad–Belagavi New Railway Line via Kittur
- A 73 km new broad-gauge line between Dharwad and Belagavi, passing through Kittur, has been officially sanctioned by the Railways. Estimated cost: ₹927 crore (50:50 funding by Indian Railways and Karnataka Government)
- The new route will reduce distance by ~31 km and travel time from ~3 hours to around 1.5 hours, including stops at 11 stations such as Desur, MK Hubballi, Kittur, Teguru, Mammigatti.
📍 Stations Proposed Along the Alignment
- Belagavi / Belgaum
- Desur
- Kanvikarvinkoppa
- Bagewadi
- M.K. Hubballi
- Hulikatti
- Kittur
- Teguru
- Mammigatti
- Kyarakoppa
- Dharwad Junction
🏞️ Current Status (as of Spring 2025)
- Land Acquisition is nearly complete:
- 600 acres in Belagavi and 322–288 acres in Dharwad acquired.
- Only about 155 acres remain pending, pending resolution of localConcerns.
- Tendering for civil works is expected imminently (within weeks of May 2025 press release). The project is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
- Political and administrative push underway, with Railway MoS V. Somanna actively urging faster execution.
⚠️ Community and Alignment Challenges
- Local farmer protests erupted in late 2025 and 2025, raising objections to acquisition along fertile agricultural land in villages such as Kuruvinakoppa, Desur, KK Koppa. They demanded either alternate alignment or compensation at appropriate rates.
- Administrative meetings have addressed these grievances to keep the project moving, including ensuring timely tendering once land is cleared.
✅ Quick Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Route | Dharwad ↔ Belagavi via Kittur (~73 km new line) |
| Major Stops | 11 stations including Kittur, MK Hubballi, Teguru, etc. |
| Benefit | Distance cut by ~31 km; travel time ~1.5 hrs vs 3 hrs |
| Cost | ~₹927 crore (50:50 cost sharing) |
| Land Acquisition | ~1,200 acres total; ~155 acres pending |
| Tendering & Construction | Tenders to be issued soon; work expected Dec 2025–Mar 2026 |
| Challenges | Farmer protests on fertile land; alignment concerns |
🧭 What It Means for Travellers & Region
- Once completed, the route will enable swift rail services between Belagavi, Dharwad & Hubballi, potentially integrating into future Vande Bharat or express services.
- A possible Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express has already been sanctioned but awaits rolling stock allocation. The new alignment will support its efficiency.
- The project is also expected to catalyze economic growth, industrial access, and uplift regional infrastructure
🎯 What Comes Next
- Possible service revolution: Faster, direct trains connecting Belagavi–Dharwad–Hubballi with Bengaluru and other cities.
- Local lobbying matter: Addressing land acquisition concerns and alignment disputes is key to uninterrupted progress.
- Railway outreach: Continued coordination between IR and Karnataka government is essential to meet the March 2026 completion target.
Would you like a detailed route map, potential train service planning post-completion, or assistance drafting public interest updates?