BAGALKOT

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 197  Dt: 18.08.2020

SHRI ARVIND MALKHEDE, DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER CONDUCTS PRESS CONFERENCE THROUGH VIDEO LINK

Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager of Hubballi Division conducted a press conference today o­n 18.08.2020 to brief about the various achievements and good works done by the Division during COVID period through video link. Smt. E. Vijaya, Deputy General Manager and Chief Public Relations Officer was also present in the press meet.

Shri Arvind Malkhede said that during the lockdown, though passenger train services were cancelled, goods trains and parcel trains continued to run.  Railway staff like guards, loco pilots, maintenance staff, control staff and others contributed immensely in ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities across the country during lockdown.  Hubballi Division has distributed groceries to coolie porters, daily wage labourers and needy people during lockdown.   It has also distributed more than 76 thousand meals to the needy during lock down.  Hubballi Division has handled  188 rakes of fertilizers equal to 47 lakh quintals and  230 rakes of food grains equal to  57 lakh quintals during this period.

Hubballi Division has run 21 Shramik Specials carrying 30 thousand migrant workers and overall SWR has run 267 Shramik Specials enabling 3.9 lakh migrant people to reach their home.  He said that the Division has manufactured 15,397 face masks and 6090 litres of hand sanitizers for the use of railway staff.   Hubballi Division has converted 35 ICF coaches in to Isolation coaches for COVID patients.  Overall in SWR 320 coaches were converted as Isolation coaches, he said.    o­n a question from the media about utilization of these coaches for COVID patients, he said that the COVID care coaches will be provided upon request from the state government/district administration. o­n a question about resumption of passenger train services, he said that decision in such matter will be taken by the Ministry of Railways in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health. 

Many major works have been completed during COVID period. Remodeling work of Hosapete, a major yard for train operations, has been completed during the COVID period. Yard remodeling has enabled simultaneous reception/dispatch of trains from both directions. This gives flexibility in train operations. Another major work completed by Hubballi Division during COVID period is Kudgi Canal Crossing work of Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL).  This has enabled in irrigating 1.66 Lakh hectares of land and benefitted large number of farmers. Lachyan-Hotgi (33 Km) doubling with 670 m long Bhima Bridge has been completed during the period.  28 Km new line between Gangavati and Karatagi has also been completed.  Hubballi Division has taken up speed enhancement work over the division.  Sectional speed between Majorda and Vasco Da Gama is increased from 75 KMPH to 100 KMPH. Permanent Speed Restrictions have been removed at six locations over Hubballi-Londa section by carrying out upgradation works.  Speed between Ghataprabha and Chikkodi road station has been enhanced to 110 KMPH.

 Doubling works are going o­n in full swing. 16.39 KM doubling between Unkal and Dharwad is expected to be completed by September 2020.   Doubling work is going o­n in various sections.  The doubling work of Gadag to Hole Alur is expected to be completed by January 2021. Doubling between Chikkodi Road-Kudachi is likely to  be completed by December, 2020.  He said that station redevelopment works are being taken up in the Hubballi Division.  Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Belagavi, Hosapete station buildings are being reconstructed.  A new goods shed at Khajjidoni is being developed.  New Goods Shed at Navanagar in Bagalkot, Aliyabad in Vijayapura are also being constructed.  Electrification work between Kariganur-Harlapur is completed. 

He said that Business Development Unit has been set up in the Division to capture additional freight. The BDU has conducted 10 meetings through Video Conference and direct meetings so far. As a result the Division has been able to get new stream of traffic viz., Bauxite, Metallurgical coke, fly ash, pig iron and rice.  o­n the occasion, Shri Arvind Malkhede highlighted about various incentive schemes offered by the Railways for freight customers.   He said that for round trip freight loading, i.e. if a consignor commits to transport ‘A’ class goods in a particular direction, and ‘B’ class goods in the return direction, the consignor will be offered a discount. Similarly, concessions are also being given to short lead traffic, long lead traffic and traffic in traditional empty flow direction. 

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 178  Dt: 30.07.2020

DOUBLING BETWEEN LACHYAN-HOTGI (33 KM) COMMISSIONED

The doubling project from Hotgi-Kudgi-Gadag (284 km) was sanctioned by Railway Board in 2014-15 at an anticipated cost of Rs.1870 Crore. It connects states of Karnataka & Maharashtra through Bijapur & Sholapur districts.

Doubling of Kudgi-Hotgi has been taken up under Customer funding model with M/s.NTPC. This is o­ne such project in Indian Railways, wherein Customer/beneficiary of the project is contributing to the cost of project.

An amount of Rs.946 Crore has been deposited by M/s.NTPC towards the cost of Doubling of the stretch between Hotgi-Kudgi (134 km) and the remaining amount is funded by Railway for doubling of Kudgi – Gadag section (150 km).

This doubling work will increase line capacity and help in avoiding detention to trains waiting for crossing and introduction of additional trains o­n this route.  This will also help in smooth movement of rakes to/from the industries/power plants and will also boost overall economic development of the region. Commissioning of this section will give impetus to movement of passengers and transport of goods between states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. This is an important rail link connecting the cities of Bengaluru and Mumbai. A lot of tourist places like Bagalkot, Bijapur, etc are getting connectivity.  This project facilitates Rail connectivity for supply of raw materials & Coal to NTPC plants at Kudgi & Hotgi.

Commissioner of Railway safety has inspected Lachyan-Hotgi (33 km) section o­n 18^thMay and section was commissioned by South Western Railway o­n 29th July along with remodeling of Hotgi yard by Central Railway even in difficult situation of covid pandemic. Two halt stations (Padnur, Sulerjavalge) and o­ne block station (Tadwal) are situated under this section.

The track passes through the 670 m long important bridge over River Bhima, the longest bridge in the zone comprising 14 spans of 45.7 m spans is a major achievement.  This bridge is designed to fit for 25T axle loading. Currently, speed restrictions are imposed o­n existing bridge since it is not capable of carrying higher axle loads.

The bridge consists of two lines, first line is ready for traffic movement & second line will be ready by October. New bridge will increase speed of goods trains and throughput.  As o­n date 148 Km of track from Wandal - Hotgi is commissioned & entire 284 Km section from Hotgi to Gadag will be completed to double line by 2022.

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi