The Indian Railways has created a historic milestone by securing a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest railway platform globally. This recognition has been earned by the newly constructed platform No. 8 at Hubballi station in Karnataka, which measures a remarkable 1507 meters in length. The achievement is a source of immense pride for both Indian Railways and the Hubballi-Dharwad region, as it signifies their ability to meet the future transportation needs of the city.

The construction of the Hubballi station, which cost Rs 20.1 crore, was part of the remodeling of the Hubballi yard. The remodeling was commissioned with electronic interlocking in February 2021, which addressed the need to hold and run additional trains in the future. The new platform has also eliminated the bottleneck caused by single-line working towards Gadag, Davangere, and Londa. Now, express trains can enter and exit the station without any detention, saving time for passengers.

In addition to the existing five platforms, three new platforms have been added to the station, making it more efficient and enhancing its operational capacity. Two trains can now be started in two directions simultaneously from the longest platform, further improving the station's efficiency.

The South Western Railway zone has also completed the electrification of the Hosapete - Hubballi - Tinaighat Railway line at a cost of Rs. 519 crores. The route passes through several districts in Karnataka and links steel and thermal power plants with Mormugao Port in Goa. Electrification of the double-line track will make the route pollution-free and carbon-neutral. Also, it will allow for annual savings of more than 2,50,000 kiloliters of diesel and Rs 250 crore.

The construction of the longest railway platform in the world at Hubballi station and the electrification of the Hosapete - Hubballi - Tinaighat Railway line are significant milestones for Indian Railways. These accomplishments improve the efficiency of transportation, making it a moment of pride for the country.