BELAGAVI
Inching closer to its target of double-tracking and electrification of the Hubballi-Vasco railway track, the SWR has commenced the electrification of the railway line.
Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) A K Rai on Monday inspected the electrification of 65 Route km (RKM) between Hubballi and Alnawar, which is part of the Hospet-Vasco railway line.
“Electrification will significantly improve the mobility of trains on SWR and strengthen rail network in Karnataka and Goa. In addition to the reduction in pollution, the efficiency of the railway will improve due to a shift from fossil fuel to electricity,” a senior official said.
Rai inspected Traction Substation (TSS) at Hubballi, Sub Sectioning & Paralleling Post (SSP) at Dharwad, Kambarganvi, Kashanatti and sectioning and paralleling post at Kyarkop.
He inspected the overhead equipment, level crossing gates, foot overbridges in the section, while also conducting a speed trial with AC Loco from Alnawar to Hubballi.
“This is the part of Hosapete-Hubballi-Vasco section. The electrification work is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). Electrification between Kariganuru-Harlapur (73 Km) was completed this year. With this, electrification work of 99 km has been completed from Hosapete to Hulkoti. Electrification work from Hulkoti to Hubballi and from Alnavar to Castle Rock is in progress and is targeted for June,” a railways spokesperson said.
Earlier, a mandatory electric loco trial before CRS inspection was conducted on March 3 in this section. In total, 138 km of electrification have been completed on this section,” the spokesperson added.
SWR Divisional Railway Manager Arvind Malkhede, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Manoj Mahajan, Chief Project Manager M Ramakrishna, RVNL General Manager Dinesh Jain and others were present during the CRS inspection.
