Mangaluru: The Ministry of Railways is currently reviewing a proposal to realign Mangaluru‘s railway administration, moving it from the Palakkad Division under Southern Railway to the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway. The suggestion was put forth by Mangaluru MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta in the Lok Sabha, where he sought clarity on whether an assessment had been made on the potential benefits of the reorganization.
Responding to the query, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that jurisdictional changes are guided by operational needs, with the aim of enhancing efficiency, boosting passenger convenience, and ensuring smooth freight operations. He added that several areas under Indian Railways already operate under multi-jurisdictional frameworks, which are regularly monitored for effective functioning.
The Minister highlighted multiple ongoing projects aimed at enhancing railway infrastructure in the Mangaluru region. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, stations like Mangaluru Junction, Bantwala, and Subramanya Road are being upgraded with improved platforms, enhanced parking spaces, new foot-over bridges, and modernized station buildings.
Additionally, the long-awaited Jokkatte-Thokur Doubling Project (2 km) has been approved. Feasibility studies for three key routes — the Shivamogga-Sringeri-Mangaluru new line (332 km), Hassan-Mangaluru doubling (247 km), and the Shoranur-Mangaluru 3rd and 4th line (307 km) — are also underway.
As of April 1, 2024, Karnataka has 31 railway projects totaling 3,840 km and worth ₹47,016 crore under various stages of implementation. Of these, 1,302 km have already been commissioned with ₹17,383 crore spent till March 2024.
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