Karnataka rail projects budget targets nine new lines

Karnataka rail projects budget sets aside Rs 600 crore in 2026-27 for nine new railway lines. The work will be carried out in coordination with Indian Railways under a cost-sharing arrangement with the Centre, as reported by The Hans India.

Karnataka rail projects budget and new railway lines

Presenting the budget in the Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the new railway lines would move forward under a 50:50 cost-sharing framework with the Union government. The state also said seven railway projects have already made progress, with about Rs 2,950 crore spent on land acquisition and around Rs 2,682 crore on construction activities.

The proposed routes, as detailed by Deccan Herald, include Ginigera–Raichur, Tumakuru–Rayadurg, Chikkamagaluru–Belur, Kudachi–Bagalkot, Gadag–Wadi, Tumakuru–Davangere, Belur–Hassan, Shivamogga–Shikaripura–Ranebennur and Dharwad–Kittur–Belagavi. Together, these routes form the core of the latest Karnataka rail projects budget package announced by the government.

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Cost-sharing model and land acquisition

The Chief Minister said the cost of construction and land acquisition for the Ginigera–Raichur and Tumakuru–Rayadurg lines will be shared equally between the state and the Union government. For the other seven projects, the Karnataka government will bear the full cost of land acquisition and 50 percent of the construction expenditure.

At the same time, this cost-sharing model between the state and the Centre remains a central feature of the railway funding plan. Also, land acquisition and construction continue to be key spending areas across the railway projects.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project and line doubling

The state government has also earmarked Rs 500 crore in the current financial year for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project. As Public TV notes, land acquisition for Corridor-2 between Benniganahalli and Chikkabanavara has already been completed, and construction work is progressing.

Meanwhile, for Corridor-4 between Heelalige and Rajanukunte, land acquisition is underway. The government is targeting completion of both corridors by December 2030. In addition, Rs 100 crore has been allocated this year for railway line doubling projects on the Baiyappanahalli–Hosur and Yeshwantpur–Channasandra sections.

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