Karnataka concluded the 2023-24 financial year on a high note by electrifying more than 3,400 km of its 3,836 km railway network. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the state’s railway infrastructure.
Last week, two railway lines, namely Guledgudda-Bagalkot-Wandal (50.7 Route Kilometre) and Holenarasipura-Hassan (32 RKM), were successfully electrified. Following the completion of electrification works, statutory inspections and speed trials were conducted between Holenarasipura and Hassan on March 28. Two days later, similar trials were conducted for the Guledgudda-Bagalkot double line and the Bagalkot-Wandal single line.
The electrification of the Guledgudda-Bagalkot-Wandal section is particularly noteworthy as it signifies the electrification of the Bengaluru-Vijayapura line (via Guntakal). This development opens up the possibility of operating Vande Bharat Express trains between Bengaluru and Vijayapura, a demand raised by Minister for Infrastructure Development M B Patil.
Shyam Sundal Mangal, Chief Project Director of Railway Electrification, Bengaluru, stated that the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) successfully completed all assigned electrification works in Karnataka, achieving its target of 264 RKM in the 2023-24 financial year.
The completion of the electrification of the 32-km line between Holenarasipura and Hassan means that the 119-km Mysuru-Hassan line is now fully electrified. Karnataka, which was previously considered one of the laggards in electrification, has now electrified over 90% of its railway network.
The South Western Railway (SWR) also made significant progress by electrifying and commissioning 15 sections in the 2023-24 financial year, with ongoing electrification projects in three additional sections. Future plans include electrification works on crucial lines such as the Sakleshpur-Subramanya Road-Kabakaputtur line, which will facilitate the operation of Vande Bharat trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru.
According to K N Krishna Prasad of Karnataka Railway Vedike, several lines across the state are slated for electrification, including Vyasa Colony-Amaravati Colony, Taj Sultanpur-Khanapura, and various sections of the Kudchi-Miraj line.
The progress in electrification signifies a significant step towards enhancing railway connectivity and efficiency in Karnataka.
