Mangaluru
Railway Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakthi, V Somanna, has instructed the General Managers of Southern Railway, South Western Railway, and the Chairman and Managing Director of Konkan Railway to conduct a study on consolidating the railway network in the Mangaluru region under a single entity. The officials have been given a timeline of 15-20 days to submit a detailed report.
This directive was issued by the Minister during a meeting with the heads of the three railway divisions, officials from the district administration, and public representatives to discuss various railway-related issues in the region.
Earlier, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta highlighted that dividing the railway network of the Mangaluru region among three different divisions has hindered its development, despite Mangaluru Central railway station being among the top ten revenue-earning stations in South India.
Acknowledging these challenges, the Minister expressed his lack of awareness regarding technical issues but emphasized the need to explore the feasibility of consolidating the region’s railway network. He tasked the three zonal heads with studying this possibility and presenting a comprehensive report.
Additionally, the Minister instructed railway officials to hold coordination committee meetings every three months with local MPs, legislators, and officials to address issues related to railway infrastructure such as railway under bridges (RUB), over bridges (ROB), and level crossings.
The meeting was attended by Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, MLC Manjunath Bhandary, and other officials.
