Shingatgeri

                                                                 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

                                      Press Release No. 271   Dt. 02.11.2019

INNAUGURATION OF AMBEWADI – ALNAVAR RAILWAY

 LINE FOR PASSENGER TRAINS BY FLAGGING OFF OF

 PASSENGER TRAIN BETWEEN AMBEWADI – DHARWAD

Directed by Shri Suresh Channabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Minster of State of Railways to fulfill the long standing demand of public of Uttara Kannada and Dharwad district, South Western Railway is going to inaugurate the Railway line between Ambewadi – Alnavar for passenger trains and pleased to run the Train No. 56924 / 56923 Ambewadi – Dharwad – Ambewadi Passenger in newly opened line.

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines and Shri Suresh Channabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Minster of State of Railways will inaugurate the Railway line between Ambewadi – Alnavar and flag off the the Inaugural Train No. 06923 Ambewadi – Dharwad Passenger Special at 14:00 hrs o­n 03.11.2019 from Ambewadi.  Inaugural Special train will run up to Dharwad to open path and timings with a composition of 4 Coaches consisting of THREE General Second Class Coaches and o­nE Second Class Luggage cum Brake Van.

Shri Jagdish Shettar, Hon’ble Minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries Govt. of Karnataka(MLA, Hubballi-Dharwad Central);  Smt. Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle,Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development, Food & Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Govt. of Karnataka,District In-charge Minister of Uttar kannada; Shri Anantkumar Hegde Hon’ble MP, Uttar Kannada; Shri R V Deshpande,  Hon’ble MLA, Haliyal; Dr. Anjali Hemanth Nimbalkar, Hon’ble MLA, Khanapur; Shri C M Nimbannavar, Hon'ble MLA, Kalaghatagi; Shri Amrut Desai,  Hon'ble MLA, Dharwad and other dignitaries will grace the occasion.

The section between Ambewadi – Alnavar is a historic 100 year old Railway Track which was used o­nly for transport of goods traffic after conversion to Broad Gauge and now for the first time in history being opened for passenger traffic in Broad Gauge.  Constructed to carry forest products especially timber during the First World War, the metre gauge track was laid by Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway in 1918. It connected the main railway line from Belagavi to Hubballi with four stations in between -Gogtewadi, Shingatgeri, Ambewadi and Dandeli. Initially o­nly goods trains o­nly ran and later passenger trains were introduced. The meter gauge track was being used for movement of goods traffic to and from the Paper mills at Dandeli. 

In 1994, the railway services were stopped for conversion from Meter Gauge to Broad-gauge work. Thesingle line section between Alnavar to Ambewadi wasre-opened with Broad gauge and commissioned for Goods traffic o­n 07.07.1995.

During this year (2019-20) for upgrading of 25 Kms of track and for track upgradation work for smooth running of passenger trains an amount of Rs.40.68 Cr was sanctioned.  An amount of Rs.7.93 Cr was spent towards construction of station buildingsand other passenger amenity works  total of Rs. 75 Cr completed in the current year itself with passenger trains between Alnavar to Ambewadi.

The Alnavar to Ambewadi section is now opened for passenger trains. Alnavar is close to Dandeli, which is a tourist destination with natural habitat of wild life and lush green forests o­n the banks of the Kali river. 

It is an ideal spot for river rafting and adventure sports like mountain biking, trekking, cycling, kayaking and canoeing. It is called nature lover’s paradise & Trakker’s delight. It boasts of many beautiful sight seeing places/spots such as River Kali, Dandeli Wildlife sanctuary, Shiroli Peak, Dandelappa Temple, Molangi Falls, Kavala Caves, KavadiKere, Supa Dam.

This railway line will help to boost tourism in the region. It will also enable the residents of the upper Ghat districts to reach Hubballi, Dharwad and Belagavi.

Regular service of Train No. 56923 / 56924 Dharwad – Ambewadi – Dharwad Passenger in newly opened line will commence from 04.11.2019 from both directions.

As regular service Train No. 56923 Dharwad – Ambewadi Passenger will depart from Dharwad at 11:30 hrs and arrive at Ambewadi at 13:00 hrs o­n the same day, with effect from 04.11.2019.

As regular service Train No.56924 Ambewadi – Dharwad Passenger will depart from Ambewadi at 15:00 hrs and arrive at Dharwad at 16:40 hrs o­n the same day, with effect from 04.11.2019.

Enroute this train will arrive / depart Alnavar – 15:50/15:52 hrs, Kambarganvi – 16:02/16:03 hrs, Mugud – 16:14/16:15 hrs and Kyarkop – 16:25/16:26 hrs.

The Train will have a composition of 3 Coaches consisting of TWO General Second Class Coaches and ONE Second Class Luggage cum Brake Van.

                                                      (E. Vijaya)

                                                         Chief Public Relations Office