Again to minimise the answers to close the discussion.
With SWR's BIDR Exp, NED Exp, Basava, CR's SUR SF - RC has better connectivity at present. Not due to any effort of SCR.
You said "small portion (say RC/BIDR) " - so for that I got in the freight revenue generated by RC/YG.
You being from that region would know that RC/YG is the...
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lifeline for all the towns with no rail connectivity - Sindhanur, Shahpura, Surapura, Lingsugur etc..... So you would know how many reservation category passengers and how many UR people (far higher) will travel.

If efforts of a particular zone would be visible only through introduction of its own new trains - then i cant make any further comment in this efforts issue.
And as I am from that NEK region, the issue is of not being connected with capital. The issue is of lack of good railway lines in first place and in second place, it is lack of proper intrastate connectivity in the existing lines..
First case:
Ginigera...
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- Mahaboobnagar Line: It took more than a decade for works to be initiated . Thank God finally it picked up some pace.. Unfortunately, lack of steel again put a halt in rail works since 2-3 months.
Wadi - Gadag Line.. Again decades of pending.. Heard some news of works started, but dont know at ground level.
RDG - Tumkur : Works done in AP state and delayed due to land aquistion in kA state. Finally some works have started (ref ur post)
Gadag- Hotgi : What a blunder of rail conversion is dat. Such a low MPS track
BAY - CTA - JRU: Another ~ route with such a low mps.
These are not exhaustive though.
Second Case:
Whatever it is, whatever the routes train take, SWR has done one good job regarding Capital connectivity to each and every corner of the state of KA. Some ONTs also do the job of ICE in their 'S''W'rouets..
But it seriously lacks in Intra State connectivity (other than Capital)
U can hardly find any ONT / ICE which starts and end in KA , keeping trains originating/passing through SBC aside. Dharwad-Mysore express is the only express I guess. Pls correct if I am wrong.
Even the recent Vishwamanava Exp is also made run upto UBL.. Though primarily it took shape to cater MYS-SBC in morning and SBC -MYS in evening, its decided to run upto UBL. SBC UBL already has JS in the morning and its closely followed by two passengers. It woud have been wonderful if it would have took any of the following routes:
1) MYS-SBC-GTL-GR-BIDR
2) MYS -SBC-GTL-BAY-GDG-BJP-GR
3) MYS-SBC-TK-BAY-RC-GR-BIDR
4) MYS-SBC-TK- BAY-GDG-BJP-GR
Can never understand whats stopping SWR in running intrazone trains in its own zone.