Belagavi–Channammana Kitturu–Dharwad Railway Line Delayed Over Land Acquisition, Alleges MP Shettar

The implementation of the long-pending Belagavi–Channammana Kitturu–Dharwad direct railway line project faces renewed delays due to incomplete land acquisition and administrative bottlenecks, Belagavi Member of Parliament Jagadish Shettar has alleged. Addressing the media, the MP criticized the Karnataka state government for failing to allocate and release adequate land acquisition compensation to landowning farmers across Kitturu taluk and neighboring stretches, thereby stalling the transfer of required land to South Western Railway (SWR) authorities. The proposed 73-kilometer direct railway line, which includes 11 stations with Kitturu as a major central hub, is a crucial infrastructure project designed to cut travel time between Belagavi and Dharwad to under an hour while bypassing the longer existing route via Londa Junction. The project is being executed on a 50:50 cost-sharing agreement between the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Karnataka, with the state government committing to provide land free of cost along with funding half the total construction expenses. For residents and business owners in Kitturu taluk, the delay hampers local economic growth and regional connectivity. The direct railway line is expected to boost industrial corridor development, trade, and passenger transit in Kitturu, which currently relies heavily on highway road transport. MP Shettar urged state authorities to immediately expedite compensation disbursal and complete the land handover process so that railway construction work can proceed without further hindrance.