Mangaluru: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off Kudla Express, the Mangaluru-Yeshwantpur tri-weekly Express through video conference from Madgaon on Sunday.
Railway minister also inaugurated newly electrified section between Mangalore JN/Mangaluru Central and Charvattur Stations, dedication of newly doubled line between Panambur and Jokatte with a new block station at Jokatte and freight Siding at Thokur of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited.
On the occasion Union Minister Sadananda Gowda under whose tenure Kudla Express had been announced said that he was happy indeed that his long time dream stands fulfilled.
“Within one week of having assumed office as Railway minister a meeting was conveyed along with long with Udupi MP Nalin Kumar ,Konkan Railway, Southern Railway and South Western Railway offices for complete action plan for the development of railways in coastal district. We say that the Railways is the life line of this country but this has not happened in coastal belt,” he said.
During my tenure as a Railway minister I have sanctioned 26 trains for Karnataka, Kudla Express being the twenty fourth train. Only two trains, out of 26 trains sanctioned are pending. During 2016 Railway budget a sum of Rs 1618 crore was sanctioned to Karnataka.
On making Mangalore as a division, he also opined that as Mangaluru shares with Southern Railways, South Western Railways and Mysore Division it has become difficult.
On the issue of water clogging at Padil railway under bridge during monsoon, he urged the MCC Mayor to set right the problem. Coming days Railway department will also take works like setting up of railway booking office at central station and parking facility.
On World Class Railway Station Gowda he said ” In this budget 400 Railway station have been identified for up-gradation as A1 and A grade railway stations. And it will be done in three phases but Mangalore will be included in first phase” he said.
Union minister assured that in coming days Kudla Express will be extended to Mangalore Central as was originally announced.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, State minister B Ramanatha Rai, MLA JR Lobo, Chief Whip Ivan D’ Souza, Mayor Kavitha Sanil, ZP president Meenakshi Shanthigodu spoke this occasion and waived green flag to Kudla Express.
