Delegation from B’gavi meets Union rly minister

Belagavi: The Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar, along with Union minister of food and civil supplies, Pralhad Joshi, met with Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the implementation of several long-pending demands of the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency. Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi accompanied them.
Key among the discussions was the proposal to conduct a ‘route survey' for the creation of a new railway line between Lokapura - Ramadurga - Savadatti - Dharwad. Pressing the necessity of this route for the convenience of lakhs of devotees of Renuka Yallamma of Savadatti, the delegation urged the Union minister to issue orders for undertaking the survey work.
Furthermore, addressing the long-standing aspirations of Belagavi residents, the issue of extending the Vande Bharat train service, currently running between Bengaluru and Dharwad, up to Belagavi was raised. The delegation requested the minister to fulfil this long-pending demand at the earliest.
Another crucial matter brought to the minister's attention was the Belagavi-Miraj passenger train service. The service, which has been operating with periodic extensions, was proposed to be made a permanent daily service.
According to the release, minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded positively to all three demands. He assured the delegation that orders would be issued to initiate the survey work for the new Lokapura - Ramadurga - Savadatti - Dharwad railway line. On the matter of the Vande Bharat train service, he stated that a decision to extend the Bengaluru-Dharwad service to Belagavi would be announced soon. Regarding the Belagavi-Miraj passenger train, he promised that necessary steps would be taken shortly to make the currently temporary service permanent.