JOIN USThe maiden railway budget presented by Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal evoked mixed response in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Speaking to Deccan Herlad, Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi President Hanumantha Kamath said that though the budget has met a few demands, it is likely to help the neighbouring states than Karnataka.
“Instead of daily train between Mangalore-Bangalore, the Union Railway Minister has announced a Bangalore-Mangalore express train once in a week. The long -pending demand of intercity between Mangalore and Madgaon has received green signal in the budget.
However, the budget has not made any reference to the implementatin of the previous projects.”
Welocming Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train service between Thokur-Bhatkal, he said that the train must have been extended to Mangalore Central, to help the passengers.
The proposal on survey of Shornoor-Mangalore third line and Mangalore -Kachiguda Express train will benefit the neighbouring state, he added.
Treming the budget as disappointing for Mangaloreans, KCCI President Amin said that the budget has nothing major for Mangaloreans.
“We were hoping for the announcement of separate division for Mangalore atleast this time.
However, our demand has not been considered. We will pursue the matter once again with the authorities concerned.”
Railway Yahthri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde said that introduction of Madgaon-Mangalore intercity and Bangalore-Mangalore express train is indeed a welcome move.
Routing of Mangalore-Hyderabad train via Coimbatore instead of Bangalore and DEMU service from Bhatkal to Thokur is not of much use for the Mangaloreans.
The budget has once again disappointed the people of Coastal district by not announcing separate division for Mangalore.
Railway Development Action Committee convener P V Mohan termed the budget as a good budget after 2006.
“Kerala did not get any new trains, whereas Mangalore got three trains,” he said and added that the budget has also announced skill development centre for Mangalore.
“The announcement of new trains and other facilities will help in realising the dream of a separate division for Mangalore in the future.”
The budget has not made any reference to the survey on Mangalore-Bangalore tunnel and Madgaon doubling track, he added.