Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Apr 21: In the last railway budget, it was announced that Mangalore Railway Station would be upgraded to world class shortly. Initially, it was thought that the Mangalore Central railway station would be developed into world class. The then minister of state for railways, K H Muniyappa, had announced during his visit to the city last year that Mangalore Central railway station would be upgraded. Now, it is gathered that Kankanaday (Mangalore Junction) railway station will get this privilege.
It is learnt that a railway station, to conform to the world class, needs about 30 acres of land. Recently, the first meeting in this connection was held in Bangalore. Mangalore Junction railway station got the nod in preference to Mangalore Central station because of the non-availability of required land in Hampankatta area, which is the hub of the city, and where Mangalore Central station is located.
For transforming Mangalore Junction railway station, which is located away from the city, facilities like accessibility, ambulance services, variety stores, automated laundry machines, modern toilets, elevators, lot of parking space etc., will have to be provided. Considering the fact that this station suffers from lot of shortcomings at present, it might even take several years for the station to become world class.
The city has got a new international airport terminal that will be opened next month. A new service bus stand is planned to be set up near Pumpwell Circle. A railway station with all the amenities will surely boost the image of the city. A lot also depends on whether the railways will throb to the needs of the people here for additional trains on certain routes like the extension of the super fast train from Mumbai to Karwar to the city. Political will of the bosses, extent of interest evinced by railway minister and higher officials in the ministry, as well as the intensity of follow up action by the local leaders will decide when the station will become world class.