Having executed many initiatives to improve railway infrastructure and passenger amenities in Mangaluru area in 2017-18, the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway (SR) is confident of enhancing the same with numerous ongoing works.
These works include the reconstruction of a passenger reservation centre and the providing of a second entry at Mangaluru Central Station this financial year.
Not being neglected
In an effort to dispel the notion that Mangaluru area is being neglected by the SR, an official release listed details of expenditure in the previous fiscal and ongoing works in the current.
Complete electrification of Mangaluru-Shoranur (310 km) at an estimated cost of ₹361 crore last year was one of the major achievements, it said. While a few new trains were introduced out of Mangaluru, a new double line between Panambur and Jokatte, the opening of Jokatte Railway Station and the opening of Railway Siding for Container Corporation of India at New Mangalore Port Trust improved the infrastructure in the area.
Ongoing projects
The Railways is hopeful of completing several ongoing projects within the stipulated deadlines.
They include the electrification of Mangaluru Junction-Panambur (18.5 km) stretch at an estimated cost of ₹18 crore; track doubling between Mangaluru Junction and Jokkatte with a 800 m tunnel at a cost of ₹135 crore; track doubling between Netravati Cabin-Mangaluru Central (1.5 km) at an expenditure of ₹20.86 crore; provision of new Platform No. 4 at Mangaluru Central at a cost of ₹6.67 crore; replacement of girder with RCC box of size 1x12.20x5.50 and extension of existing RUB at Padil on National Highway 75 at a cost of ₹3 crore; and elimination of a level crossing at Kanakarabettu, off Jeppu, and providing a parallel road to the next RUB at Jeppu Kudpady at a cost of ₹91 lakh.
Crew booking office
During the current financial year, the Railways has also proposed to reconstruct the passenger reservation centre and crew booking office at Mangaluru Central at a cost of ₹5 crore.
The new booking office at the second entry at Attavara is expected to come up at a cost of ₹75 lakh while the much-demanded toilet block on Platform Nos. 2 and 3 at Central would be built at a cost of ₹17 lakh.
Railway Protection
Force post
Two elevators too would be installed and a Railway Protection Force post would come up at Mangaluru Junction Station.
