Rajya Sabha MP Prof. Dr. M. Nagaraja has called upon the Union Government to implement a permanent solution to Belagavi’s escalating traffic congestion and long-standing railway gate bottlenecks. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the parliamentarian proposed an ambitious 9-kilometer elevated railway track built on viaducts through the core of the city.
The proposed elevated corridor aims to systematically eliminate traffic disruptions caused by level crossings and existing Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), which frequently choke commuting routes across Belagavi.
| Feature | Details |
| Project Scope | ~9 km elevated railway track on viaducts |
| Target Area | Core Belagavi city center |
| Key Objective | Eliminate level crossing bottlenecks and traffic disruptions |
| Model Precedents | Kurukshetra and Kanpur elevated railway projects |
Key Benefits for Urban Infrastructure
If approved and implemented, the elevated railway system is expected to deliver transformative benefits to the city’s transit ecosystem:
- Emergency Transport: Significantly improves transit times for ambulances and emergency response vehicles by removing level-crossing gate closures.
- Heavy Vehicle Movement: Eases freight and commercial heavy transport throughput, strengthening overall intra-city connectivity.
- Public Safety & Commute Times: Reduces vehicle idling and severe peak-hour bottlenecks at major intersection gates.
- Commercial Protection: Expands surface road capacity and future infrastructure options without encroaching on or disrupting Belagavi’s established commercial hubs.
Inspiration from National Benchmarks
Pointing to similar elevated railway projects currently underway in Kurukshetra and Kanpur, Prof. Dr. M. Nagaraja emphasized that Belagavi requires a scientific, sustainable, and future-ready approach rather than piecemeal road widenings.
“Adopting an elevated viaduct model will solve the dual challenge of rail growth and urban congestion for decades to come,” the MP noted during his address, urging the Railway Ministry to initiate feasibility studies for the project.
