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Deve Gowda Pushes for Bengaluru-Hyderabad-Bidar High-Speed Rail Extension

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has written to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, applauding the major railway projects announced in the Union Budget. He specifically urged for the Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed corridor to be extended to Bidar to benefit North Karnataka and Telangana. Gowda also emphasized the need for improved internal connectivity, suggesting a Bengaluru-Belagavi-Pune-Mumbai corridor to bridge the state's developmental divide. In a related development, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy secured a Rs 150 crore loan for the Hassan Mega Dairy expansion.

Key Points: Deve Gowda Urges Extension of Bengaluru-Hyderabad Rail Corridor

  • Advocates Bengaluru-Hyderabad-Bidar rail extension
  • Highlights 7 new high-speed corridors in Budget
  • Seeks better North-South Karnataka connectivity
  • Notes Rs 16 lakh crore investment potential
3 min read

Deve Gowda bats for Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed railway corridor

Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda advocates for extending the high-speed rail corridor to Bidar and improving Karnataka's internal connectivity post-Budget.

"These corridors would act as growth connectors, promoting sustainable transport and economic development. - H.D. Deve Gowda"

New Delhi, Feb 5

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday congratulated Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for allocating higher funds and announcing major projects for the railway sector in the Union Budget, going beyond the immediate needs of the nation.

Deve Gowda urged that the Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed railway corridor be extended up to Bidar.

In a letter addressed to the Railway Minister, the former Prime Minister appreciated the announcement of seven new high-speed rail corridors, covering nearly 4,000 km, in the 2026 Budget.

He said these corridors would act as growth connectors, promoting sustainable transport and economic development.

Among them, the Chennai-Bengaluru-Hyderabad corridor (including the Hyderabad-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru sections) will create a high-speed triangle in the southern region. This corridor will directly address the aspirations and mobility needs of the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, while also benefiting Kerala and Puducherry, he stated.

He noted that other corridors such as Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri would connect major urban, industrial and spiritual centres across the country. These projects would significantly reduce travel time and attract investments worth Rs 16 lakh crore.

He said this visionary initiative aligns seamlessly with the ambitious goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 and will accelerate India's journey towards a developed, modern economy driven by world-class infrastructure.

Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda urged that the Bengaluru-Hyderabad high-speed railway corridor be extended up to Bidar, stating that this would greatly benefit the regions of North Karnataka and Telangana. He said the extension would address the long-standing needs of the Bidar region.

He also emphasised the need for improved internal connectivity within Karnataka. The distance between Bengaluru and Belagavi is about 600 km, and the current travel time by road or rail generally ranges from eight to ten hours. Such long travel durations severely hinder development between North and South Karnataka. A high-speed rail corridor connecting Bengaluru-Belagavi-Pune-Mumbai would be immensely beneficial, he said.

Meanwhile, an official statement from Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that the Central government has agreed to provide a loan facility of Rs 150 crore through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the expansion project of the Hassan Mega Dairy.

It said that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, along with JD (S) MLA and Hassan Milk Union President H.D. Revanna, met Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) and submitted a request.

"Responding promptly to the request made by Minister Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister agreed to sanction a loan of Rs 150 crore through the National Dairy Development Board. Kumaraswamy expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying for responding positively to the appeal," the statement said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the vision is impressive, I hope the execution is smooth. We've seen many grand infrastructure announcements that get delayed for years. The focus should be on completing one corridor successfully first, rather than announcing seven at once. Let's see the ground reality.
R
Rohit P
As someone who travels frequently between Bengaluru and Pune for work, the proposed Bengaluru-Belagavi-Pune-Mumbai corridor would be a lifesaver! Cutting down an 8-10 hour journey to maybe 3-4 hours would be incredible. This is true progress for connecting our states.
S
Sarah B
The environmental impact of such massive projects needs careful consideration. High-speed rail is great, but it must be truly sustainable. I hope they use green energy and minimize disruption to local ecosystems and communities during construction.
A
Aditya G
Good to see a senior leader like Deve Gowda pushing for North Karnataka's development. Bidar and the surrounding regions have often felt neglected. This rail extension could bring much-needed investment and jobs to the area. Hope the Centre listens.
K
Kavya N
The southern high-speed triangle connecting Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad is a brilliant idea! It will boost the entire South Indian economy. My only request: please make the tickets affordable for the common person, not just for business class travelers.

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