• Source:JND
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Karnataka Vande Bharat: Union Minister V. Somanna announced on Thursday that Karnataka will soon welcome its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, which will operate between Bengaluru and Belagavi starting next month. This development was shared during a press conference held at a private hotel in Belagavi.

Somanna mentioned the significance of a new railway line connecting Belagavi to Dharwad via Kittur, describing it as a dream project of the late Suresh Angadi. He assured that efforts are underway to make this project a reality in the near future.

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In response to questions about the existing Vande Bharat services, the Minister noted that the Pune-Belagavi route is already in operation. He emphasised that the forthcoming sleeper service will be the first of its kind in Karnataka, further enhancing connectivity between these two important cities.

According to a report by Belgaviinfra, earlier in the day, Somanna held a meeting with railway officials at the DC office hall to assess the progress of railway projects in the district. He discussed the establishment of a 73-kilometre railway line between Desur in Belagavi and Kyarakoppa in Dharwad, which is expected to cut travel time significantly, by more than an hour.

To facilitate this project, a total of 888 acres of land is required, 600 acres in Belagavi and 228 acres in Dharwad. Somanna instructed Belagavi District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan to expedite the land acquisition process. Roshan has been active in this regard and is likely to hand over 444 acres of land by next month, with plans to submit it to the Railway Department by January 25 or 26.

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In Dharwad district, land acquisition is also progressing well, although there is a challenge with a 42-acre stretch that the Karnataka state government is working to acquire as swiftly as possible.

The meeting also covered proposals to improve local infrastructure, including plans for five Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and one Road Under Bridge (RUB) in Belagavi district to enhance safety and connectivity.