Frequent train travelers from Mangaluru are advocating for a separate railway division due to the city’s rapid expansion. Mangaluru stands out in Karnataka as the only city with all four modes of transport: road, rail, air, and water. This commercial hub hosts significant industries like MCF, KIOCL, MRPL, and CAMPCO. Products from South India are exported via NMPT, and the same port handles key imports, including crude oil, underscoring Mangaluru’s commercial significance.
The city also boasts prominent pilgrimage sites, including Kukke Subramanya, Shree Kshethra Dharmasthala, and Mangaladevi, which attract visitors statewide. Mangaluru’s educational institutions, such as NITK, St Aloysius College, and hospitals like KMC and Yenepoya, serve a vast number of students and patients, including those from neighboring states.
Despite its importance, Mangaluru lags in railway infrastructure. It is divided among the Palakkad section of Southern Railways, Mysuru of South Western Railways, and Konkan Railway, preventing comprehensive railway services. A separate railway division is needed to develop Mangaluru Central and Junction as major railway hubs, initiate train services to various Karnataka cities, and upgrade Mangaluru Central station to international standards.
The Dakshina Kannada Railway Passengers’ Committee has launched a signature campaign from July 4 to August 2, urging public participation to strengthen this demand. The proposed inclusion of Konkan Railway Corporation under Indian Railways would further streamline services, making Mangaluru Central a focal point and fulfilling the railway needs of the coastal region.