Urgent need for Hubli-Ankola railway line and regional development: Shettar

Udupi. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar insisted on the immediate realization of the Hubli-Ankola railway line. He urged the officers of South Western Railway Division to expedite the process. Shettar made the remarks while inaugurating an event titled ‘Promoting Sustainable Industrial Development and Tourism in Coastal Karnataka’. The event was organized by the NGO Jayshree Krishna Parisar Premi Samiti and took place in Manipal. Shettar highlighted the potential of the Hubli-Ankola railway line to enhance commercial activities in Karwar. In addition, he also advocated for the development of Belekeri port. The move will enable entrepreneurs from North Karnataka to export their products through Belekeri port instead of depending only on Mumbai and Goa ports. Shettar suggested that this change would provide more profitability to entrepreneurs in northern Karnataka. Raised by environmentalists through Public Interest Litigations (PILs).

Addressing the concerns, Shettar underlined that the railway line would not harm the environment as argued by some. He informed that the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) has approved large projects whose environmental impact is more significant. Shettar expressed his stand that environmental activism should not hinder regional development. Shettar recalled that the foundation stone laying ceremony (‘Bhoomi Puja’) for the proposed Hubli-Ankola railway line was conducted by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002.

However, due to legal challenges presented by environmentalists in the High Court, the project faced delay. , Shettar recently met the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav. He sought clearance for the project through the intervention of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Additionally, as per the recent direction of the High Court, the South Western Railway Division has taken steps to submit a Revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Hubli-Ankola railway line. Shettar expressed hope that with all the necessary approvals in place, the project could soon become a reality. Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khadar, former minister RV Deshpande and other dignitaries were present at the event.