The 58-km-long Raichur-Gadwal new railway line was commissioned by Union minister for railways Mallikarjun Kharge at the Raichur railway station in Karnataka on Saturday. He also flagged off the inaugural run of the Raichur-Gadwal/Kacheguda DEMU passenger train services (No. 77690/94) after commissioning the new line.
Kharge said the commissioning of the railway line heralded a historic moment for the region as it opened up a convenient cross-border rail link strengthening the people-to-people contact.
The minister also spoke on various railway projects taken up by the SCR in Karnataka including the new railway line between Bidar and Gulbarga, and Munirabad and Mahbubnagar. He assured that the ministry would expedite the developmental works in the region.
He said investment and budgetary allocation for modernisation of the railways had substantially been increased over the last few years.
“Besides, the private sector has been encouraged to participate in this endeavour. This has resulted in the development of high-speed freight lines and dedicated freight corridors that can run high-axle load wagons (25 and 32.5 tonne capacities) of double-stacked container trains hauled by high-power locomotives. India is the fourth country to enter the ‘one billion tonne club’ in freight movement and expects a freight growth of more than 5 per cent this year despite the tough economic conditions,’’ Kharge said.
Earlier, South Central Railway general manager AK Mital said the new railway line would serve as a short link between two main lines of Wadi-Raichur-Guntakal and Kacheguda-Gadwal-Dhone. New DEMU passenger train, flagged off at Raichur by Kharge, was received at the Gadwal railway station state minister DK Aruna and Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannatham.