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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 29: "The upgrading the Mangaluru Central railway station has been sanctioned and as the first phase of the project, development works worth Rs 4 crore has been taken up. This will be completed soon," said MP Nalin Kumar Kateel.

Nalin was speaking at the Railway Development Committee meeting that was held on Wednesday, November 28 at the DK zilla panchayat office.

He said that various developmental activities including a second entrance will be implemented at the Mangaluru Central railway station.

Speaking at the meeting, Hanumanth Kamath of Railway development committee said, "Rs 7.5 crores grant is already received for the construction of fourth platform at the central railway station. Fourth and fifth platforms could not be built as the pit line location is not changed by the railway authority."

Hanumanth also questioned how many more years we have to wait for this project, which is pending since a long time waiting for the grant for change of location of pit line, to be completed? Nalin instructed the railway authorities to get a feasibility report ready in this connection.

Earlier, when deciding the time schedule of No 16575/76 Mangaluru Junction - Yashwantpur Express train, it was decided that the train will run up to Central railway station. However, certain railway officials have put an obstacle to this decision and made it convenient for the passengers travelling towards Kerala. This objection was raised in the meeting. To this objection, P S Shami, manager of Palakkad railway division said that he will try to make Mangaluru Central as the originating station for this train.

Mohammed Nazeer, commissioner of MCC, said, "Railway under-bridge work near Jeppu Mahakalipadpu has been sanctioned and it is decided to release an amount of Rs 40 crore from the grant for Mangaluru Smart City project."

The railway officials said that within one year of depositing this amount with the railway department, the under-bridge will be built by the department.

Issue of obstruction to the free flow of water below the Attavar railway bridge, demand to restart Mahalaxmi train and railway department has to grant permission for the construction of road at Jeppu Kudappady were highlighted in the meeting.

Ganesh Arbi, president gram panchayat accused that 50 houses have lost road connection due to the laying of second railway track at Malavoor. Answering the accusation, railway officials said that they have not received any proposal in this regard. MP Nalin instructed to send the report in this connection from the gram panchayat to the district administration and from there the same will be relayed to the railway department.

Dinesh Kumpala said that online taxis are plying at a lesser rate than the tourist taxis at the railway station, which has caused issues to the tourist taxi drivers and owners and requested to fix the same rate for all. Replying to this request, Nalin said that online taxi is the demand of the public. It cannot be opposed. “This issue will be investigated and amicable solution as appropriate for both the parties will be decided,” he said.