Hopes of world class rly station at M'lore still alive

Mangalore Central Railway station has been identified to be developed as World Class Station (WCS), which was announced by former minister for railways Mamata Banerjee in her railway budget in 2009.

According to an information sought by Railway Yahthri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde under Right To Information Act, pertaining to world class station with Southern Railway Chief General Engineer and Public Information officer, the copy of which is available with Deccan Herald, it states that the Mangalore Central will be made as world class station.

It said that the General Manager has nominated SAG level multi-disiplinary project team, a monitoring committee of HoD and another one of PHoDs for dealing with the proposal for developing Mangalore Central Station as world class station.

A draft inception report is under process, the reply from the railways said.  To a query on proposed number of additional platforms at Mangalore Central station, the reply said that proposal for the development of two platforms along with second entry has been sent to the Railway Board for consideration under PWP 2012-13.

New proposal
A proposal of Rs 1610.44 lakh for construction of additional island platforms to decongest the existing terminal has been included in the 2012-13 budget. There is also a proposal for developing the exit on Attavar side.

The WCS concept, introduced in 2009-10 budget, intends to offer better service to passengers, smooth and safe road traffic flow to and from the station, adequate parking facilities, security including CCTV surveillance, multi-functional complexes, food courts, shopping facilities etc.

Hegde said that even though additional island platforms are developed at Mangalore Central, Kerala-bound trains can not reach Mangalore Central Station, as entering central station entails engine reversal.

“The railways must implement bulbline track while upgrading the Mangalore Central to World Class Station, so that all trains from Mangalore Junction can be routed via Mangalore Central. The bulb line track is seen as a permanent solution to the problem of diverting trains via Mangalore Junction. It helps to make it  possible to turn the direction of the train. It will help solve the problem of engine reversal for trains coming from various destinations. Engine reversal will result in complete reversal of the train and is time consuming. Trains like Rajadhani Express, Duronto Express and other trains which pass through Mangalore Junction without touching Mangalore Central can be routed via Mangalore Central if bulb line tracks are introduced,” he added.