South Western Railway is planning goods depots along new lines to boost Karnataka’s regional economies
The proposed infrastructure includes several corridors across the state including Gadag-Wadi, Bagalkot-Kudachi, Ginigera-Raichur, Dharwad-Belagavi and Tumakuru-Davanagere. | Photo credit: File photo
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To strengthen Karnataka’s logistics backbone, the South Western Railway (SWR) plans to set up dedicated rail depots and cargo handling infrastructure along the 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 loading lines into new rail routes. Officials say the move will reduce reliance on road transport, lower logistics costs and improve manufacturers’ market access.
Senior railway officials said the strategy goes beyond expanding conventional rail. “The aim is not just to connect cities, but to directly connect manufacturing centers to consumer markets. By locating goods warehouses in high-performance clusters, we are creating decentralized economic hubs,” a senior SWR official told The Hindu.
The proposed infrastructure includes several corridors across the state including Gadag-Wadi, Bagalkot-Kudachi, Ginigera-Raichur, Dharwad-Belagavi and Tumakuru-Davanagere. These arrangements pass through areas 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 the mining and cement industries, apart from sugar mills in districts like Bagalkot and Belagavi. Multi-station freight loading facilities will enable bulk commodities to be transported directly from source points, reducing pressure on an already strained road network.
Similarly, in the Raichur-Koppal belt, often referred to as the state’s ‘rice bowl’, the new goods sheds at Gangavathi and Sindhanur are expected to streamline large-scale movement of the grain. “It will enable faster loading of rakes and improve supply to deficit states and strengthen the national food supply chain,” the official said.
The plan also addresses long-standing logistical problems in the Malnad and central Karnataka regions. The Shivamogga-Ranebennur route is expected to facilitate transportation of arecanuts, maize and timber, while the Tumakuru-Davangere corridor, which runs parallel to National Highway 48, will support transportation of minerals and industrial cargo.
Officials said specialized infrastructure is being considered at select locations to maximize efficiency. These include proposals for cement handling terminals, cold chain facilities for horticultural products and multimodal logistics parks to integrate rail with road transport.
“Strategic additions like the cold storage facility at Kudachi and the logistics hub near Davanagere can significantly strengthen the value chains. It is not just about railway projects but about economic assets,” the official added.
The Hassan-Chikkamagaluru-Belur stretch is expected to be particularly beneficial to the plantation economy as it will enable smoother exports of coffee, pepper and timber through connectivity to coastal ports.
Published – June 6, 2026 10:20 PM IST