A 100-year-old railway track in Karnataka will soon reopen for service. Constructed to carry forest products especially timber during the First World War, the metre gauge track was laid by Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway System in 1918. It connected the main railway line from Belagavi to Hubballi with four stations in between -- Gogtewadi, Shingatgeri, Ambewadi and Dandeli. Initially only goods trains ran on the track and later passenger trains were introduced. But in 1994, the railway services were stopped because of broad-gauge work and the Dandeli railway station was shifted to Ambewadi railway station. For years, there has been no rail service between Alnavar and Dandeli.
If the railway service begins it will likely boost tourism. Presently tourists have to take the road to reach Dandeli. On weekends more than 2,000 visitors arrive in Dandeli from Bengaluru and Mumbai. The railway line will be of great help to both tourists and locals, particularly the residents of the upper Ghat districts, making Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi easy to reach.
Revenue Minister of Karnataka, R. V. Deshpande is eager to restart the service. Recently he met Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and briefed him about the urgent need to begin railway services between Alnavar and Ambewadi. All they now require is a green signal from the safety certification board.