The maiden budget presented by Union Minister for Railways D V Sadananda Gowda has been welcomed by the people of his home town. However, the long-pending demand of the people of the region - a separate division for Mangalore, has not found any place in the budget.
The Minister in his budget has announced survey for Panathur-Kaniyur railway line, Express train between Mangalore-Bangalore, doubling of track from Ullal to Surathkal via Mangalore, passenger train between Baindur and Kasargod and feasibility survey for Shimoga-Sringeri-Mangalore line.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Railway Yathri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde said that overall it is a good budget. The introduction of an Express train to connect port city with the capital city has been announced.
It was a long pending demand of the people of coastal district to start an additional train to Bangalore from Mangalore. The announcement of Baindur-Kasargod passenger train will also benefit a large number of people as it will provide inter-state connectivity.
The Minister’s nod for survey of the proposed Panathur-Kaniyur railway line in the Railway Budget has given a boost to the plan for a railway line connecting Kanhangad in Kasaragod district and Bangalore via Panathur-Kaniyur. It will provide connectivity to people of Sullia to Capital city of Bangalore,” he said.
In fact, the Southern Railways had conducted a preliminary survey for the proposed railway line between Kanhangad and Panathur (40 km) in Kasaragod district, as the survey work was included in the Railway budget for 2008-09.
The distance between Panathur and Kaniyur is 31 kms. The line from Kerala has been envisaged to join at Edamangala, near Kaniyur in Karnataka on Mangalore-Hassan railway line.
Hegde said that the demand of a train between Subrahamnya-Delhi and regularisation of summer special train between Mangalore and Ahmedabad have not been fulfilled. In fact, the doubling of line from Ullal-Surathkal will help in introducing additional trains to Madgaon. “We will impress upon the Minister to extend Nizamuddin-Madgaon train to Mangalore,” he added.
While lauding the budget, Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivridhi Samithi President Hanumanth Kamath said that the people of coastal districts were bit disappointed over the failure to announce a separate division from Mangalore.
“As a MP of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, Gowda had fought for the creation of a separate division for Mangalore. He is well aware of the problems and need for the creation of the division. At present, Mangalore is included in Palghat division and all the profit is taken away by the division.”
Praising the move of the Minister for proposing to attract private domestic and FDI in infrastructure projects and pursuing private-public partnership to boost the finances of the cash-strapped railways, KCCI President Mohammed Ameen said that the PPP project for port connectivity is likely to include Mangalore-Hassan doubling work.
“The budget also portrays the vision of Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in changes in the way the Railways function. The port connectivity is a major announcement, which will boost the economy.”
Welcoming Shimoga-Sringeri-Mangalore railway line survey, Congress leader P V Mohan said “with the increase in number of trains, the demand for the creation of Mangalore division will get more weightage. Creation of temple circuit is a new proposal which was not seen so far in the past. We do not know the purpose of the proposal.”
Entrepreneur Latha Kini said that the budget has presented a reality. The budget has a far sighted proposals and has proposed a few passnger-friendly programmes.
Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Association of Physically Challenged Persons President Dr V Muralidhar Nayak said that the association has been demanding facilities for handicapped persons in Railway station. With the proposal on battery operated vehicle in railway station, we are happy. The budget has made an attempt to provide railway connectivity to North Karnataka.
Gowda’s brother D V Suresh who works in Railways said “I am happy that my brother has presented a good budget. With the increase in rail fare by 14.8 per cent, the income of the Railways will increase. The budget has given emphasis to safety, cleanliness and good food for the passengers. Announcement of a bullet train is a welcome move.”
He said that the Minister has responded positively for the RUB at Padil.
