Mangalore: Railway Minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet, D.V. Sadananda Gowda held meetings with Southern Railway and Konkan Railway officials till about 11 pm where the officials briefed him about projects and requirements here on Sunday June 1.

People from all sections queued up in front of his house till midnight with memorandums on the construction of a railway underpass to carving out a separate Mangalore division. Mr Gowda who patiently listened to their demands, told them that the portfolio was new for him and sought time to understand the problems.

“My dream is to bring something new other than our usual work like laying tracks, constructing stations and carving out new divisions. There is a need to give a new touch to the railway department. Railways should not just mean passengers and goods. There is a need to do something new “, he said while speaking to the reporters.

Mr Gowda is one among the few Union ministers who was elevated to the post after serving as Chief Minister. He plans to bring about a major change in the railway department with good governance and innovations.