PM Modi Virtually Opens Koppal Station, 75 Stations Nationwide Under Amrit Scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated the redeveloped Koppal railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The event was conducted remotely from Jalandhar Cantonment in Punjab as part of a nationwide programme dedicating 75 redeveloped stations to the public, including four in Karnataka.
The Koppal station, along with those at Bantwal, Badami, and Alnavar, has been completed and opened for use. Over 50 stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped under the scheme. The redeveloped Koppal station features modern amenities such as high-tech escalators, 12-metre-wide foot overbridges, lifts, separate entry and exit gates, improved waiting halls, free Wi-Fi, CCTV surveillance, expanded parking, longer platforms, enhanced lighting, and barrier-free access for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The station also boasts landscaped surroundings and upgraded circulation areas.
The redevelopment of Koppal station cost an estimated ₹21.14 crore, while approximately ₹80 crore was spent on upgrading the four stations inaugurated in Karnataka. Hasansab Nabisab Dotihal, chairman of the Tungabhadra Command Area Development Authority (CADA), said that Koppal, being a district headquarters, required a modern railway station with improved passenger facilities. He described the redevelopment as a significant milestone in the district's infrastructure development. Dotihal also urged authorities to prepare a proposal for direct rail connectivity between Kushtagi and Bengaluru, in addition to the existing link to Hubballi, and submit it to the Union government. He expressed confidence that Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna would help secure more railway services for the district.
During the event, Padma Shri awardee Bhimavva Shillekyathar and freedom fighter Narayana Acharya Srinivas Acharya were felicitated by the Railway Department. Prizes were also distributed to school and college students who won competitions organised to raise awareness about the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
