Railway 

Hospet-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama- Doubling of Railway Track

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Hospet-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama- Doubling of Railway Track

HOSAPETE JN TO MUNIRABAD DOUBLING

Doubling of Railway Track commissioned between Hosapete & Munirabad on 21st February 2025 at 4.30 Hrs.

Hosapete – Munirabad (6 km) stretch is part of Hospet-Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama(352km) Doubling Project. The doubling project between Hospet and Vasco was sanctioned in the year 2025-11 at a cost of Rs.2127 Cr. Doubling of Railway track in this section will increase line capacity of this important line connecting Guntakal to Hubballi & Vasco-Da-Gama.

This route is important for movement of Iron Ore to and from Marmugao Port Goa. Doubling of this section will facilitate decongestion of passenger and goods traffic over the existing single line section between Hubli-Hospet and will improve punctuality as detention of trains due to crossings will be eliminated providing relief to the local public.

Phase -1 of the 245 km long Hospet-Tinaighat section doubling is in progress likely to be completed by March-2020. 137 km stretch between Hospet-Tinaighat was already commissioned in March-2025 and 22 km stretch between Koppal-Munirabad was commissioned on 26.12.2025.

As a part of doubling, new station building along with Foot over Bridge has been constructed at Munirabad.

Here’s a detailed overview of the Hospet–Tinaighat–Vasco‑da‑Gama railway doubling project, a key infrastructure initiative under Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), spanning Karnataka and Goa:

Project Overview

  • Route & Phases
    • The Hospet–Vasco‑da‑Gama line (~352 km) is being doubled and electrified in two phases:
      • Phase I: Hospet to Tinaighat (245 km), located largely on the Deccan plateau—funded by ADB (₹2,127 crore) with no forest diversion needed.
      • Phase II: Tinaighat to Vasco via the Western Ghats—environmentally sensitive terrain—requiring complex construction including forests, wildlife corridors, 15 tunnels (~3.4 km total), and challenging gradients.

Current Status & Investment

  • Funding & Progress
    • Total project cost: between ₹3,150 crore to ₹3,692.6 crore, fully funded by Indian Railways.
    • Over 75% of the work is completed, particularly on key segments including Kulem–Vasco stretch.
      Land Acquisition
    • Acquisition notices and compensation (approx. ₹101 crore for about 46,498 sqm in Goa) have been issued.
    • A total of about 0.9985 hectares in multiple villages has been cleared despite environmental objections.

Environmental & Legal Controversies

  • Ecological Concerns
    • The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended revoking the project’s environmental clearance, citing its marginal capacity benefit versus high ecological cost to the Western Ghats—an internationally recognized biodiversity hotspot.
  • Local Opposition
    • Communities in Goa—particularly in Velsao and surrounding villages—have protested, fearing increased coal train traffic, environmental harm, and lack of consent in land acquisition.

Summary Table

Aspect Details
Route Hospet → Tinaighat → Vasco-da-Gama (~352 km)
Phases Phase I: Hospet–Tinaighat (completed/planned) Phase II: Muscle through GH terrain
Cost & Progress ₹3,150–₹3,692.6 crore ~75% work completed
Challenges Forest diversion, wildlife habitats, topographic complexity
Status of Acquisition Land acquisition ongoing Compensation paid (~₹101 crore)
Opposition & Risks Environmental panel recommendations to scrap project; local protests

Would you like details on construction timelines, tunnel specifications, environmental mitigation efforts, or how this project might impact train traffic once completed?

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