World-class railway station for Mangaluru is still a dream

 

Work has not started even after five years

Mangaluru, 11 June 2015: Five years on, the city is yet to see even the foundation stone being laid for a world-class railway station as announced in the 2009-10 Railway Budget by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.

 

While Mangaluru Central Railway Station, the hub of activities in the heart of the city, was originally envisaged to be developed as world class, it was later decided to develop Mangaluru Junction (Kankanady) as world class citing the reason of non-availability of land at the former. Still, the State government and the Mangaluru City Corporation are yet to identify the required land at Mangaluru Junction to develop the station as world class under public-private participation mode.

 

A senior official with Southern Railway was sceptical about the viability of Mangaluru Junction being developed as world class.

 

 

Its location—far away from the National Highway itself — appears to be the major disadvantage and the station does not have wide approach roads.

 

A private player, who has to invest at least about Rs. 400 crore on the station, would naturally expect at least Rs. 10 crore return a month. However, Mangaluru Junction does not appear to have such potential, the officer said.

 

On the other hand, Mangaluru Central had all the potential, including the land. Additional land of about 30 acres was available at the Goods Shed, near Pandeshwar, the officer pointed out. However, it is the State government which has to take the final call, the officer added.

 

Meanwhile, the Kerala Industrial and Technological Consultancy Organisation, had submitted a feasibility report stating that Mangaluru Central could be developed as world class. The decision appears more to do with real estate interests than facilities to the common man, the officer felt.

 

MLC Ivan D’Souza, who represents Karnataka government at the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee of Southern Railway, on Wednesday said a final call is yet to be taken on the location of the world-class station.

 

He told reporters here that a comprehensive and well-balanced decision would be taken.