Karnataka - Mangalore   

New railway line promises growth of the region

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Picturesque: A file photo of the railway track near Donigal station which is on the Mangalore-Bangalore railway line which will be thrown open to passenger traffic on December 8.

MANGALORE: The broad gauge track newly laid through the Western Ghats is billed to emerge as an important freight and passenger line for the Railways that will boost the economy of the region.

General manager of South Western Railway (SWR) Praveen Kumar told The Hindu that the track was very important as it would provide a shorter connectivity to the people in the peninsula. Although travellers to northern India would prefer the Konkan Railway, the new line would emerge as an important link between the eastern coast and many other places in southern India.

As far as freight movement is concerned, the Railway Board had asked the SWR to run at least seven goods trains. Four goods trains had already been introduced, Mr. Kumar said.

Increase in number of goods trains would facilitate transport of iron ore, petroleum products, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Mangalore Refinery Petrochemicals Ltd. to New Mangalore Port.

“With the port city expected to emerge as a major petrochemical hub, this railway line will play a major role in transport of petroleum products. At present, oil and gas are being transported through lorry tankers. More than 200 to 300 lorries bring iron ore to the port, everyday”, he said. Stating that the track promised immense opportunities for the Railways, he said: “How to tap them will be explored later. Let us consolidate this passenger train between Bangalore and Mangalore first”. An official of the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) agreed that the increased freight movement would bolster container export. “But the Railways should provide an inland container depot, preferably at Hassan. This will ensure that various products are categorised and put into containers at the depot and sent in goods wagon directly to NMPT.”

“The NMPT transports 3.6 million tonnes iron ore a year from mines in Bellary, Chitradurga and other regions through the track, already. When goods trains are operated, more quantity of iron ore would be transported. The transport of iron ore by rail has doubled compared to last year,” he said. The industry sources were hopeful that the movement of heavy vehicles on the Mangalore-Bangalore Highway would be drastically reduced. The railway line was also expected to boost tourism in the coastal region.

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