South Western Railway plans goods sheds along new lines to boost Karnataka’s regional economies

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To strengthen Karnataka’s logistics backbone, South Western Railway (SWR) plans to establish dedicated railway goods sheds and freight handling infrastructure along newly proposed rail corridors, which are expected to help key agricultural, mining and industrial regions in the state.

The initiative, focuses on integrating freight facilities such as rail-level platforms and goods loading lines into new railway alignments. Officials say that the move will reduce dependence on road transport, cut logistics costs and improve market access for producers.

Senior railway officials indicated that the strategy goes beyond conventional rail expansion. “The objective is not merely to connect towns, but to directly link production centres with consumption markets. By placing goods sheds within high-output clusters, we are creating decentralised economic nodes,” senior SWR official told The Hindu.

The proposed infrastructure spans several corridors across the State, including Gadag-Wadi, Bagalkot-Kudachi, Ginigera-Raichur, Dharwad–Belagavi, and Tumakuru-Davanagere. These alignments pass through regions known for commodities such as iron ore, cement, sugar, paddy, cotton and oilseeds.

In north Karnataka, the Gadag-Wadi and Bagalkot-Kudachi lines are expected to benefit mining and cement industries, besides sugar factories in districts such as Bagalkot and Belagavi. Freight loading facilities at multiple stations will allow bulk commodities to be transported directly from source points, reducing pressure on already strained road networks.

Similarly, in the Raichur-Koppal belt, often referred to as the State’s “rice bowl”, new goods sheds in Gangavathi and Sindhanur are expected to streamline the large-scale movement of food grains. “This will enable faster rake loading and improve supply to deficit States, strengthening the national food supply chain,” an official said.

The plan also addresses long-standing logistical challenges in the Malnad and central Karnataka regions. The Shivamogga-Ranebennur line is expected to facilitate transport of arecanut, maize and timber, while the Tumakuru-Davangere corridor, running parallel to National Highway 48, will support mineral transport and industrial freight.

Officials said that specialised infrastructure is being considered at select locations to maximise efficiency. These include proposals for cement handling terminals, cold-chain facilities for horticulture produce, and multi-modal logistics parks to integrate rail with road transport.

“Strategic additions such as cold storage at Kudachi and a logistics hub near Davanagere can significantly enhance value chains. These are not just railway projects, but economic enablers,” the official added.

The Hassan-Chikkamagaluru-Belur section is expected to particularly benefit the plantation economy, enabling smoother export of coffee, pepper and timber through connectivity to coastal ports.