Mangalore: Mallikarjun Kharge flags off three new trains from city

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Feb 23: Union minister for railways Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday February 23 flagged off three trains at Mangalore Cental railway station.

The three trains were  Mangalore Central - Madgaon Inter-city Express, Mangalore-Kachiguda biweekly Express, and Mangalore-Bhatkal DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit).

Addressing the gathering, Kharge said, "We have included three more trains in the interim budget which will connect the coastal region to other parts. We have also included 75 new trains in all for the benefit of the people, and they will be introduced by June this year."

On plans to upgrade Central railway station to world class standards, he said the survey work for such upgrading is already over in Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kolkatta stations, and the proposal has been sent to the railway board for approval. He added that the savings from revenue generated from Mangalore Central railway station will also be utilized for the station's infrastructure development.

"Two escalators and elevators will be constructed for the benefit of the aged, children and physically challenged people at the Central railway station," he added.

On increasing the number of trains between Mangalore and Bangalore, he said, "Already two trains are running successfully on this route. There are technical limitations to increasing the number of trains, as we need to get clearance from the commissioner of railway safety department. We have already sent them a proposal and they are in the process of studying it. The safety department is an independent body and we have to follow their guidelines, failing which they have the power to withdraw the trains."

He further said that trains from Tamil Nadu, Bangalore and Andhra Pradesh will connect Jaipur via Ajmer. Train connectivity will also be established between Mysore and Bangalore to Varanadi in Uttar Pradesh, he said, adding that around 800 crore people travel by trains every year in India.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde in his address said, "

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel in his address said, "We got these three trains as per our request. For the purpose of developing tourism, the Mangalore-Madgaon Inter-city Express will be extended to Vasco (Goa). Kharge has assured that he will announce more trains between Mangalore and Bangalore. Moreover, Bhatkal-Thokur train has been extended to Mangalore.

"Many people have said the coastal region did not get anything in the recent interim rail budget. But the Hazrat Nizamuddin - Kottayam - Alleppey train will have a stopover in Mangalore, which will be beneficial to the people of this region," he said.

Mangalore MP Naling Kumar Kateel said, "Over the last five years, there have been several demands for better train connectivity from the coastal region, but there has been no positive response from the centre. New trains are given to Kerala. Mangalore has to be separated from Palakkad railway division and joined with either Mysore or Bangalore divisions or made a separate one so as to unify the state's rail network."

He also urged the union minister to extend Kabaka-Puttur train to Subramanya.

District incharge minister Ramanath Rai also spoke on the occasion.

Rakesh Mishra, general manager of Southern Railway, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, MLA J R Lobo, MLC Monappa Bhandary and others were present.