Jagadish Shettar, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka and current Member of Parliament for Belagavi, emphasized the potential for accelerated development by merging the Hubballi-Dharwad twin cities with Belagavi into a 'triple city.' Speaking at the Logistics Summit during the Incomex 2026 exhibition, he highlighted ongoing efforts to establish a direct rail connection between Dharwad and Belagavi. Currently, 1,700 acres of land has been acquired for this project, but the state government has yet to release the necessary compensation. Shettar noted that 240 acres have been secured in Dharwad out of the 300 acres needed. He stated that if the state expedites compensation, construction could commence within six to seven months, significantly boosting regional growth. Additionally, he praised the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for their initiatives and suggested that they organize events every two months to foster business development.