Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Friday said that Mangaluru-Bengaluru express trains would run via Shravanabelagola once the new Hassan-Bengaluru railway line is commissioned. This would reduce the distance as well as travelling time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru drastically, Mr. Kateel said.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a set of escalators at the Mangaluru Central Railway Station here, Mr. Kateel said that the new line is set to be commissioned by March next. Land acquisition problems had delayed completion of the project near Solur in Ramnagaram district. With the issue being sorted out, work is going on in full swing, Mr. Kateel said.
He said that the Shiradi Ghat stretch between Kukke Subrahmanya Road and Sakleshpur has the capacity to accommodate two more trains to fulfil the demand of the coastal region seeking the operation of more number of trains between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. Besides the train announced in the budget by the then Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, he is demanding two more trains for passengers on the stretch, Mr. Kateel said.
Asked about the demand to extend the Mangaluru-Madgaon Intercity Express to Mumbai because of low patronage, the MP said that the issue is before the Railway Ministry and he is pursuing it. He said that rescheduling or re-routing the Kasargod-Mookambika Road Byndoor Passenger train due to low patronage is also on the cards and there is a demand to run it between Kukke Subrahmanya and Byndoor to facilitate pilgrims.
Mangaluru Division
Mr. Kateel reiterated the demand for the formation of a new Railway Division in Mangaluru, which is presently being served by three zones — Konkan Railway, South Western Railway and Southern Railway.
Southern Railway has only 13 km railroad length in Karnataka, he said and added that bringing Mangaluru region under Konkan Railway is not possible for technical reasons.
Hence, the creation of a new division under South Western Railway or bringing Mangaluru region under South Western Railway are the options left, he said.
To a question on improving Mangaluru Central Railway Station, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad, Naresh Lalwani, said that tenders would be called for immediately to improve the second entrance on the Attavar side and build one more platform.
Line doubling between Central and Netravath Cabin would also be taken up immediately, he added.
The escalators have been installed at a cost of Rs. 2 crore to facilitate passengers to move from the main entry to Platform Nos. 2 and 3 with ease.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, has reiterated the demand for the formation of a new Railway Division in Mangaluru, which is presently being served by three zones — Konkan Railway, South Western Railway and Southern Railway
