Belagavi: Opposition from farmers over fertile land acquisition has stalled the progress of the Belagavi-Dharwad railway project. A meeting held on Friday at Kumar Gandharva Rang Mandir brought together local farmers and district officials to discuss the issue.
The proposed 73-kilometre railway line requires 1,436 acres of land, with nearly 90% located in Belagavi district and 10% in Dharwad district. Farmers from villages including Iddalahond, Nagenahalli, KK Koppa, Garlganji, Nandihalli, and Halagimardi expressed strong resistance to the project, citing concerns about losing productive farmland.
Farmers criticized the government for finalizing the railway route without their input and demanded the acquisition prioritize barren land instead of fertile fields. Prasad Patil, a gram panchayat member from Garlagunji and a key farmer leader, highlighted that the affected areas produce around one lakh tonnes of sugarcane annually.
Officials present at the meeting included Special Deputy Commissioner Raghunandan, Additional Chief Executive Engineer Shivakumar, Special Land Acquisition Officer Manjunath Dombar, the sub-registrar, and representatives from the forest department. Authorities acknowledged the resistance, promising to convey farmers’ concerns to higher officials and seek a resolution.
The government has been attempting land acquisition for eight years, but despite claims by Belagavi District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan three months ago that acquisition was nearly complete except for compensation, progress has stalled due to ongoing opposition. Some allegations also suggest that certain farmers may be hindering the process while seeking higher compensation.
The project cost has nearly doubled from an initial estimate of Rs 950 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 2,004 crore, raising concerns over escalating expenses. Farmers urged caution in public spending, referencing recent investments in doubling the Miraj-Londa railway route.
The Belagavi-Dharwad rail link remains crucial, but resolving land-related disputes will be key to moving the project forward.
