‘Nethravati bridge to be ready by March 2011’

DHNS

• New foot over bridge, entrance terminal at central rly station soon

Mangalore, 10 November 2010: The Southern Railways has sanctioned a new foot over bridge for the Central Railway Station in the City.

 

 

The second foot over bridge will be constructed at the Northern side of the railway station and the work will be taken up soon.

 

Speaking at a meeting of stakeholders organised by the Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC) at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Hall here on Tuesday, Divisional Railway Manager S K Raina said that an agency has been assigned to submit the design of the bridge. Railways has introduced ramp over bridges for the convenience of physically challenged and elderly persons at many places. Similar bridge will be constructed in Mangalore Central Railway Station in the later phase, he added.

 

New entrance

 

Raina said that one more entrance building will be constructed at the Mangalore Central Railway station. “The new building, which will come at the Northern end of the railway station, will have a reservation counter, parking space and a platform ticket vending machine,” he said adding that the work will commence within three months and is expected to be completed in one year.

 

He said that the Railways has already spent nearly Rs 200 crore for various infrastructure development work in Mangalore Central and Junction railway stations and for the construction of bridge at Nethravati. The construction of the bridge is expected to be completed before March 31, 2011, he said and added that the 19km long railway route between Mangalore and Panambur will be doubled at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore.

 

KCCI’s memorandum

 

KCCI President G G Mohandas Prabhu submitting a memorandum, said that a new train should be introduced on the route between Mangalore and Howrah. “The new train will be of immense help for the people of Dakshina Kannada,” he added. Prabhu urged that the Railways should appoint an officer of Palghat Division for the spot study of Mangalore Junction and Central railway stations. “The official should conduct a survey along with local members of the DRUCC and suggest further improvements of infrastructure,” he added.

 

Other demands  include extension of Karwar - Mangalore Junction train to Mangalore Central station, making Yeshwanthpur - Mangalore train daily and an additional train between Karwar and Yeshwanthpur via Mangalore.

 

Responding to the demands, Raina said that introducing a new train or extending the route involves long and complicated process.

 

“The proposal should be sent to the headquarters and it should be discussed at the government-level. Finally, the demand will be fulfilled only in the annual railway budget,” he said and added that all demands will be forwarded to the headquarters.

 

World class railway station

 

The Palghat division of the Southern Railway has decided to hold meeting of the stakeholders to discuss over the project of upgrading either of the Railway Stations in Mangalore into a ‘world-class’ railway station.

 

The meeting scheduled to be held either in December or in the first week of January, 2011, said Raina speaking with the media persons. He said, “a proposal to develop a world-class railway station was mooted by Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee while presenting the budget in 2009. The Railways will hold discussion with  Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav,” he added.

 

Raina said that the Palghat division has not made recommendations as to which railway station should be developed into world-class status. “I think the Mangalore Junction Railway Station at Kankanady will be the suitable one to be upgraded. It will be difficult for the Railways to develop Mangalore Central Railway Station as there is limited space,” he added.