Newskarnataka – Mangalore

Mangalore: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes has written a letter to the Union Minister for Railways Mallikarjuna Kharge urging to establish Mangalore division for railways under the control of Konkan railways.

In a letter dated February 10, Oscar Fernandes stated that the establishment of Mangalore division will provide more facilities and benefits to the passengers and goods traffic. Moreover it will also boost the economic andsocial development of Mangalore as well as the entire West Coast.

The establishment of Mangalore division will bring together the existing area of Mangalore Central, Mangalore Junction and New Mangalore Port and Konkan Railway jurisdiction, he added.

The letter also said that the people in Mangalore are against the Palakkad division for neglecting the demands including more trains and better passenger amenities and infrastructure to Mangalore. As a result, Mangalore has been deprived of better connectivity with the rest of India, despite of the Konkan railway line. The extension of Mumbai-Mangalore train from Mangalore Junction to Mangalore Central, proposed DMU service between Thokur and Bhatkal to be extended to Mangalore Central, introduction of new trains from Mangalore to east, west and north part of India has not been fulfilled. People have been demanding that Mangalore will get due benefit only with the establishment of Mangalore division,” Oscar said in the letter.

He said that at present, Mangalore is connected with two nearest divisions namely Palakkad to the south, which is 351 km away and Hubli to the north which is also 351 km away. Inspite of Konkan railway line passing through the region, only one train is originating from Mangalore Central to Mumbai. There is no single train connecting Mangalore to the east, west or northern parts of India. At the same time, Ro-Ro service introduced by the Konkan railways can be extended to Mangalore from Surathkal if Mangalore division is set up, he added.