Kundapur: Rail budget - Will coastal region's high expectations be met?


Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jul 8: As union minister of railway D V Sadananda Gowda gets ready to present his first rail budget, expectations are sky high in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada, where he hails from, and Udupi. Railway Passengers Welfare Forum based in Kundapur, which has some appreciable achievements backed by sustained efforts and action plans in its kitty, has charted several demands for the train travellers from this part of the district. Whether its efforts towards meeting its demands will bear fruits, will be known once the railway budget is presented in the parliament later today.

At present, Mangalore happens to be under the control of Palakkad division which falls under southern railway zone, which also utilises Konkan railway line that passes through this town. Because of this, Konkan Railway Corporation loses around Rs 300 crore annually. Mangalore railway station is now sandwiched between south western railway, southern railway, and Konkan railway. If it is brought out of the purview of southern railway and included in Konkan railway division, Konkan Railway would be able to earn an annual additional revenue of Rs 300 crore. The forum argues that this will rejuvenate Konkan Railway, which is facing fund crunch on account of different reasons including the above.

Another track needs to be added to Konkan Railay line, as it happens to be busy now. As the stretch of the line between Mangalore and Kundapur does not have any tunnel, upgradation of this stretch through electrification can result in cutting the travel time, the Forum says. The Forum has also submitted its proposal for upgrading of the local railway station to the central government. It is also to be seen as to whether its demands for improving connecting roads to the railway stations that are in a neglected state, asphalting them, providing street lights etc would be met by the budget.

Recently elected member of parliament from Udupi constituency, Shobha Karandlaje, has been apprised of all these issues. The fact that union railway minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, was representing this constituency earlier, has heightened expectations of the people from the railway budget for this region.

Members of the above forum have fought for sanctioning halt for several trains moving on this line at the local railway station, but because of various reasons, they have not succeeded to the level expected. The fact that MP from Udupi was not a local, and members of the forum did not have enough knowledge about railway rules, had turned out to be disadvantageous for them. After Jayaprakash Hegde got elected from Udupi Lok Sabha constituency, the committee got a chance to ably present its demands to the centre. Due to these efforts, the Bangalore-Mangalore train was extended to Karwar, and the train from Mangalore to CST Mumbai started to halt here. Mangala Express to New Delhi began stopping here, new inter-city train was introduced between Madgaon and Mangalore, apart from the fact that DMU was extended till Madgaon, the Forum claims.

The forum has put forth its demand for separate railway division for Mangalore, running of train between Karwar and Yashwantpur every day, and daily passenger train which connects all the temple towns like Hubli, Londa, Goa, Karwar, Gokarn, Murdeshwar, Idagunji, Kollur, Kundapur, Udupi, Mangalore, Dharmasthala Road and Subrahmanya. Another demand of the form relates to introduction a new passenger train between Vasco and Mangalore. Demand to bring Mangalore port, Mangalore Junction, and Panambur railway stations within the purview of the proposed division has also been included.

At present, several trains pass through Konkan railway line, but revenue from these trains goes to southern railway. If Konkan Railway is to achieve progress and recover from its financial crisis, Mangalore has to be brought under Konkan Railway. Once this happens, Konkan Raiwlay Corporation will get funds for adding another track to its lines, improve connecting roads, and take up electrification of tracks. As their own representative is now the railway minister, every citizen from this area hopes that this budget will meet their expectations and aspirations, says convener of Railway Travellers Welfare Forum Kundapur, Kenchanur Somashekhar Shetty.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Mr Ferfect, Namma Kudla

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Yeddi has forgttn frm which place he belongs, instd of givng Byndoor -kasargod Train he could have given it to mlore to blore (1 mre train). As of now in the mlore region nearly 95% of trains are running to kerala itself out of tat he had given one more train. its like trashing an egg on ur head itself.

    here we can see that mlore is the border of the karnataka & kerala, where major part of the railway is utilized by the kerala itself. whereas for karnataka we don't have any trains rather than blore/mysore daily single train or to karkala/etc.

    percentage is about 95(kerala):05(karnataka).

    DVS hope you realise what you have announced.

    Brighter part of this budget is cleanliness & bullet train. must agreed.

    Mr Ferfect

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Mr Ravi B Shenava, Mangalore

    Will it be possible to double the no of trains, IF a double track of one KM is laid on this ghat at a safe place, so that the trains can cross at this point and there will be two trains running on this Shiradi ghat section at a time....

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chandrashekhar, Kundapura / Basrur

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Budget came out... Big disappointment for Coastal Districts!!

    DVS is good for nothing... All time proven Feku & doesn't possess any vision and guts !!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • karthik.ks, Doha Qatar

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Sadananda Gowda "Rail Budiye"

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Gowda has forgotten that he is the Railway Minister.
    He has 'read the budget' like Jo- The Station Master.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    By Jo!What I was afraid of has indeed materialized!
    It's a 'JO Trackless... this railway Budget at least for coastal Karnataka!
    'The Jo Trackless Super Fast'
    connecting M'lore- Mapusa to Mumbai
    has indeed taken of.
    No Mangalore Division nothing!
    I have a serious doubt. Gowda has nothing to do with his budget. He has just 'read the budget' which was prepared by someone else. Who is this someone is the million dollar question?
    Byndoor -kasargod Train!!!!!
    Ho Ho HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo..
    Nonsense.
    Our state may have got something but Coastal Karnataka- Taayan Taayan Fish!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chandrashekhar, Kundapura / Basrur

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Simply giving stops at Taluk Centers is not enough, introduce new station quota tickets for temporary trains and increase existing station quota tickets on priority basis.

    Some examples & problems as follows:-

    Ernakulam-Pune Express stoppage at Udupi is going to be cancelled soon due to poor patronage according to Railways!! Even at Kundapura there is no surety about getting permanent stops for CST-Mangalore Express & Mangala Lakshadhweeps Express & quite few!!

    In Kundapura Station since KRCLs inception station quota tickets for only 2 trains (Mathsyagandha 24 seats & Netravathi 6 seats). Surprising no station quota tickets for other trains!! PRS allows you to book general and tatkal quota only. In these conditions getting confirmed tickets would be the tough task. Even if try booking your ticket before 2 months, you can’t get confirmed tickets!! Believe me I am frequent traveler majority of times I am failed to get tickets online!!

    There is huge demand in all Taluk Centers, but railways system is not et all upto the mark. Best solutions would be increase existing station quota tickets and introduce new station quota tickets for all trains including temporary stops would be beneficial for local travellers.

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Good and thoughtful analysis, More over Kundapura railway station is in outskirts and not easily accessible for poor passengers.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chandrashekhar, Kundapura / Basrur

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    @ Krishna Mangalore... Kundapura station is around 3 Km from city!!

    Unfortunately in coastal maximum stations falls in outskirts only. Byndoor (Ottinane), Kundapura (Moodlakatte), Brahmavara (Barkur), Udupi (Indrali) etc. etc.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prasheesh Kumar. S. , Mumbai.

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    The Railway Budget is out and it is Tusssss for our Karavali.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore / Kwt

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    There cannot be any development in Mangalore as long as the region is under Palakkad Division. If separate division is created for Mangalore under SWR/KR, which we highly expect from Mr. DVS, then other developments will automatically follow suit.

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • yahoo, bombay

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    My exp already met due to tkt charge increase to overcome huge losses. Down south 2 states and up north 2 goonda-mawaali states misusing railways as second home already feeling the heat...Without having their guy as rly min they got goodies...lets see how much Mr.Smiley does for canara.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi B Shenava, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    In Shiradi Ghat only Twelve trains can pass in ONE DAY including Goods Trains as each train takes two hours to cross this Ghat section, which means only six trains per day in each direction is possible.
    So alternative line to Mangalore is required via Chikmagalur-Moodigere-Ujire-Karkala-Panamboor. This is an urgent requirement of DK/Udupi people.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • CONRAD JOHN TAURO, SHIRVA/UDUPI/DUBAI

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    More expectations and less hope.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Hope after all these expectations
    he will not commission the
    'JO Trackless Super Fast Express
    Connecting M'lore -Mapusa and Mumbai!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mapusa

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Mamu, Undu kaali railu budpina lekka tojundu. Mapusa does not have any railway station ...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Porbule Aike Yaan 'Trackless' pantini ye!
    That's y I said trackless!
    But 'Aaapko Mirchi Kyon Lagi'?

    DisAgree [7] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mapusa

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Mamu, Tumko Ullu Banaya ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Report Abuse

  • D.P.SHETTY, Bahrain

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Konkan railway is the great gift to tulunadu by great Mr. George Fernandez. Now its duty of Mr.Sadananda Gowda to improve & connect to Mangalore airport.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Let SMILE EXPRESS come on track.

    New Division under SWR/KR
    New Terminal at Subrahmanya Road

    Complete Hassan-Bangalore
    Double track Mangalore-Hassan
    Sanction new line Udupi-Karkala-Chickmangalur
    New Line Hubli-Ankola

    Bangalore-Karwar Express Via Tumkur
    Regularize Blore day train Via MAQ
    Mumbai-S.Road express
    Hubli-Mangalore express
    Bijapur-Mangalore
    Delhi-S.Road
    Ahmedabad-S.road
    New Passenger train between S.Road-Karwar


    Extend Hyd-Vasco to Mangalore
    Extend Intercity to Vasco or Hubli.

    DisAgree [20] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mapusa

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Smiles for BJP
    Tears for the Passengers ...

    DisAgree [21] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Even the Black money lying abroad will not suffice to carry out all these Projects. Now ALL Barkings about Black money have come to a complete STOP by irregular chain pulling..

    DisAgree Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Hoping for good & fair budget.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nithin Poojary, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    District BJP has promised separate Mangalore division if Nalin Kumar gets elected...DVS is from our own district and Nalin Kumar dosent need English or Hindi to request DVS to get us a separate division...Both are well verse with tulu....If Nalin fails in this....it is better he sits at home...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [67] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    The railways is in shambles after ten years of bad governance. Big task for DVS to get back the Indian railways back into track and contribute to the economy

    DisAgree [29] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mapusa

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    Jokers are already giving excuses for non performance ...

    DisAgree [20] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    jokers are thrown out , now only the mad people are howling.

    Jokers are begging now to be leaders of opposition - good joke actually

    DisAgree [18] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 08 2014

    The jokers have become silent about Black money and they have developed allergic to this cancer.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Report Abuse


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Title: Kundapur: Rail budget - Will coastal region's high expectations be met?



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