The new railway line between Raichur and Gadwal and a new train between the two cities were inaugurated by Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge here on Saturday.
The minister said the laying of railway line started in 2001 and it cost Rs 350 crore. Construction of one bogie costs Rs 80 lakh and a train Rs 30 crore as on today, he added.
With the inauguration of the railway line, the distance between Raichur and Hyderabad was reduced by 62 km.
On the proposed Munirabad-Mehboobnager railway line, he said it requires 2,190 acres. So far, the state government has provided 1,070 acres. The work will begin after acquiring the required land, he said.
He also said the new railway lines between Chikmagalur and Kadur, Kolar and Chikballapur, and Humnabad and Bidar will be inaugurated within two months.
Railways chief engineer Subodh Jain said the Raichur station will have escalator and lift service soon.
Raichur MLA Dr Shivaraj Patil, Ministers Sharanprakash Patil, R V Deshpande and others were present on the occasion.