On January 14, V. Somanna, Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, inaugurated the newly constructed Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of Level Crossing (LC) 66 at Koppal. This vital infrastructure project, sanctioned during the year 2018-19, has been completed at a cost of ₹44.28 crore. The ROB will significantly enhance connectivity and ensure smoother transportation for the residents of the Kushtagi–Koppal region.
Addressing the gathering, V. Somanna highlighted that the inauguration of this ROB fulfills a long-standing demand of the people of Koppal and Kushtagi. He also emphasized the ongoing commitment of Indian Railways to improve connectivity and infrastructure. Somanna spoke about the new railway line between Gadag and Wadi, which is currently under commissioning up to Kushtagi and will soon be operational after inspection. Additionally, the line between Ginigera and Raichur has been completed up to Sindhanur, with further progress will be made as per the set targets. The Minister assured that all level crossing gates will be eliminated systematically by constructing ROBs and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) at the earliest to ensure safety and convenience for commuters.
He further stated that construction work on the bridge at LC No. 63 in Koppal city has begun, and priority will be given to the construction of bridges at LC Nos 72, 77, and 79 in the district. He also mentioned plans for the construction of new railway lines between Gangavati-Bagalkot and Gangavati-Daroji.
During the event, MLA G. Janardhan Reddy (Gangavathi) requested the introduction of a new train service between Anjanadri (Gangavathi) and Ayodhya, proposing the name “Anjanadri Express” to boost tourism in the region. He also suggested renaming Gangavathi Railway Station as Anjanadri Railway Station.
As part of the visit, V. Somanna inspected Koppal Railway Station, which is undergoing development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). He also took note of public grievances and assured appropriate action.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including K. Rajshekar Hitnal, Member of Parliament from Koppal; K Raghavendra Hitnal MLA Koppal, G. Janardhan Reddy, MLA from Gangavathi; Doddanagouda H. Patil, Chief Whip of the Opposition and MLA from Kushtagi; Smt. Hemalatha Nayak, MLC; and Amzad Patel, President of Koppal City Municipal Council. Senior railway officials, including Ms. Bela Meena, DRM of Hubballi Division; Ajay Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Bengaluru; and Anup Dayanand Sadhu, Chief Commercial Manager, also graced the occasion.
