Proposal to bring Mangaluru’s Railway lines under South Western Railway raised in Parliament

Mangaluru: A proposal to transfer the railway routes in Mangaluru city from the Southern Railway to the South Western Railway has been presented by MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta in the Parliament.

During the winter session of the Parliament on Wednesday, Capt. Chowta raised a question in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour regarding the development of railway infrastructure and traffic systems in the coastal region, including the Mangaluru-Bengaluru route. He sought clarity from the Railway Ministry on whether there is a proposal to bring the Mangaluru city railway routes, currently under Southern Railway, under South Western Railway for better administrative and developmental benefits.

Highlighting the significance of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway connectivity, Capt. Chowta also inquired about the progress of the feasibility report on track expansion through the Shiradi Ghat. He emphasized that integrating the Mangaluru city routes under a single railway zone would foster comprehensive development in the coastal region.

Railway Minister’s Response

Responding to Capt. Chowta’s queries, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the construction and development of the Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway route are being undertaken in collaboration with the state government. He added that the progress of these projects depends on the state government’s financial contribution.

The minister assured the Parliament that while details on bringing Mangaluru under the South Western Railway zone would be provided later, efforts are underway to enhance railway infrastructure in Karnataka. He mentioned that as of April 1, 2024, Karnataka has 31 ongoing projects, including 21 new routes and 10 doubling projects, covering 3,840 km at an estimated cost of Rs 47,016 crore. Out of this, 1,302 km of tracks have been commissioned, with Rs 17,383 crore spent until March 2024.

The minister also informed that doubling works on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru route have been approved in two sections: Mangaluru-Hassan (247 km) and Hassan-Chikkabanavara (166 km) via Kunigal. Additionally, a survey for the third and fourth lines between Bengaluru and Tumakuru has been sanctioned. However, the lack of state government funding has delayed further progress.

Capt. Chowta has urged the government to expedite the discussions with the state for implementing this crucial project, which promises to bring significant socio-economic benefits to the region.