JOIN USCall for separate Mangaluru railway division
The domination of Kerala in getting railway facilities and its affects on Karnataka were under spotlight at the Railway Adalat organised by Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Railway Yatri Sanghas of Udupi and Mumbai at KCCI hall here on Sunday.
KCCI former president Ramdas Prabhu said Palghat railway division has got Rs 49 crore income from New Mangalore Port Trust out of its total Rs 89 crore income.
However, Kerala gets the maximum benefit.
So, Mangaluru should be brought under Konkan Railway. Konkan Railway needs around Rs 20,000 crore for double lane work and if Mangaluru is brought under Konkan, it’s revenue would increase, he said.
Udupi Railway Yatri Sangha President R L Dias said Konkan Railway, which has a stretch of 765 km is under loss. Around 92 per cent in the central railway board are from Kerala. Though Railway Minister didn’t announce any new train in the budget, four new trains were started their service in Kerala just few days before budget, he said.
Meanwhile, he said Mangalore intercity train is a loss and it should be extended to Vasco da Gama as express train. Survey should be done to Nandikur-Charmadi-Mudigere train path and Shravanabelegula- Kunigal-Nelamangala stretch. The public representatives should travel in train to know the problems of railway and forget their political differences.
Southern Railway Consultative Committee Adviser and MLC Ivan D’Souza promised that he would mediate between Union and State governments. The Centre should provide separate Mangaluru Division and develop Mangalore Central as world class railway station. The pre-paid auto counter charge should be cancelled within a month, he said.
Complaint box
Dakshina Kannada Jilla Angavikalara Federation President Dinesh Shetty who runs a STD/ISD booth in Mangalore Central railway station, requested to give permission for a stall as his telephone booth is running in loss.
He said that physically challenged face problems in the station as their coach is at the end. For wheel chair, the staffs charge around Rs 300. The separate ticket booking counter would be closed most of the time, he said.
The MLC said that a complaint box will be kept at his office in MCC from June 10.
R L Dias urged to start Mathsyagandha cloned train from Mangaluru to Mumbai, as the waiting list for particular train is more than 300 most of the times. Nagarika Seva Samiti President G Hanumanth Kamath demanded to start Mangalore- Meeraj ‘Mahalaxmi express’ train once again. K J Pinto wanted railway goods shed in Bunder to be shifted to Ullal at the earliest.
The buses which have route permission from Mangalore Central railway station under JnNURM project should start service. Once the authorities take decision, no lobbies can run against the decision, he said.
Officials absent
The absence of officials from Konkan Railway Corporation Limited raised many eyebrows in the Railway Adalat. When participants of the Adalat protested against the behaviour of officials, MLC Ivan D’Souza said he would represent the railway and reach the woes of pubic to the department. KCCI former president Mohandas Prabhu, Vice President Rammohan Pai were present among others.