To boost logistics in Karnataka,South Western Railway (SWR) will set up goods sheds and freight facilities along new rail corridors. Plan links production hubs to markets, benefiting agriculture,mining,and industry across state .
New infrastructure will integrate freight capabilities,including rail-level platforms and goods loading lines,into planned railway routes. Officials say it will cut road transport reliance,lower logistics costs, and improve market access for local producers. A senior SWR official stressed it's not just about linking towns; it's about creating economic nodes by placing goods sheds in high-output clusters.
Railway corridors in crosshairs: Gadag-Wadi, Bagalkot-Kudachi, Ginigera-Raichur,Dharwad–Belagavi, and Tumakuru-Davanagere lines. These routes cut through regions rich in iron ore, cement, sugar, paddy,cotton,and oilseeds . In north Karnataka, Gadag-Wadi and Bagalkot-Kudachi lines will support mining,cement industries,and sugar factories in districts like Bagalkot and Belagavi.
Raichur-Koppal area,known as state’s “rice bowl,” will get new goods sheds in Gangavathi and Sindhanur to move food grains efficiently. An official noted this will speed up rake loading and boost supply to deficit states, strengthening national food supply chain.
Initiative also tackles long-standing logistical issues in Malnad and central Karnataka . Shivamogga-Ranebennur line will aid transport of arecanut, maize,and timber,while Tumakuru-Davangere corridor, running parallel to National Highway 48, will ease mineral transport and industrial freight.
For max efficiency,officials eye specialized infrastructure at select spots . Plans include cement handling terminals,cold-chain facilities for horticultural products,and multi-modal logistics parks integrating rail with road transport. Adding cold storage at Kudachi and logistics hub near Davanagere could boost value chains. “These aren't just railway projects,but economic enablers,” the official said.
Especially,Hassan-Chikkamagaluru-Belur section expected to help plantation economy,boosting coffee,pepper,and timber exports through better links to coastal ports…
