Capt Chowta Pushes for Unified Road-Rail Plan in Shiradi Ghat
Mangaluru MP Capt Brijesh Chowta recently held a high-level discussion with Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh regarding the advancement of road and rail connectivity through ShiradiGhat, a critical route linking Bengaluru to Mangaluru. The meeting, held at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, focused on speeding up infrastructure projects in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
Capt Chowta emphasized the need for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Indian Railways to collaborate on an integrated Detailed Project Report (DPR) for road and railway upgrades. He urged both agencies to streamline planning to ensure minimal environmental disruption and quicker approvals from relevant departments, including the forest department.
Currently, the NHAI is preparing a DPR for a new dual carriageway on National Highway-75, which passes through the Shiradi Ghat stretch. Simultaneously, Indian Railways is working on a DPR for a dedicated rail line through the same corridor.
The MP underlined that Shiradi Ghat’s development is essential not only for improved passenger travel but also for boosting cargo transport and trade efficiency in the coastal belt. Upgrading this corridor will directly benefit Mangaluru Port and spur economic growth in the region.
Capt Chowta also shared that he had earlier raised the issue with Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ashwini Vaishnaw, stressing the long-term value of a coordinated infrastructure push in this strategically vital stretch.
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