After being mired in delays for nearly 16 years, the Tumakuru - Rayadurga railway line is finally witnessing rapid progress, with over 96% of the required land now handed over to the Railways and civil works under way across all key segments.

Speaking to The Hindu, Tumakuru Deputy Commissioner Subha Kalyan said, “In the last 12 months, we have been able to systematically remove most of the bottlenecks that stalled this project for over a decade. By coordinating closely with revenue and land acquisition officers and maintaining consistent engagement with stakeholders, we’ve ensured that land acquisition is no longer a hurdle.”

The 206-km rail line, connecting Tumakuru in Karnataka to Rayadurga in Andhra Pradesh, passes through five major sections - Tumakuru - Urukere, Urukere - Koratagere, Koratagere - Madhugiri, Madhugiri - Madakasira, and Madakasira - Doddahalli. With land now available in all five sections, railway officials have commenced civil works throughout the corridor.

Ms. Kalyan said that the administration has completed the handover of 331 acres and 16 guntas of land, processed 110 acres for acquisition, and completed joint measurements for another 108 acres. Additionally, 19 acres were brought under acquisition through preliminary notifications and all required approval notifications were expedited.

“Many of the delays were due to unresolved compensation disputes and outdated revenue records. We organised taluk-wise resolution camps to help beneficiaries update their land records and receive compensation without delay. To fast-track progress, weekly coordination meetings were held involving officials from the Railways, Revenue, and Land Acquisition departments. On-the-ground interventions were also made, especially in areas like Dibbur and Veerasagara, where we personally oversaw house evictions and ensured the smooth handover of land that had been under dispute for years, have also resolved payment delays,” she explained.

The Tumakuru - Rayadurga project is being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹2,500 crore and the railway line will reduce the distance between Tumakuru and Ballari by 130 km, significantly enhancing rail connectivity to the Kalyana Karnataka region.

A senior South Western Railway official said that these projects play a crucial role in enhancing Tumakuru’s connectivity with other parts of Karnataka. “Once completed, the railway line is expected to significantly boost connectivity and economic development in regions like Madhugiri and Pavagada. With major land acquisition hurdles now behind, the Tumakuru - Rayadurga railway line is expected to become operational by 2026, with full completion slated for 2027,” SWR official added.

Published - June 14, 2025 09:32 pm IST