Six years have passed, still no additional platform

• Mangaluru central railway station

Mangaluru: Six years have passed since the plan was prepared for the creation of two additional platforms at Mangaluru central railway station which it the prominent railway station in Karavali. There has been an overflow of sayings and assurances regarding the start of the work. Yet the plan remains unfulfilled. Instead, with the addition of even more proposals, it has come to light that the work will only get further delayed.

Because of this, the trains waiting for a new platform at Mangaluru Central railway station to come from Mangaluru Junction railway station will for the near future have to remain at Mangaluru junction railway station itself.

Though presently, there are three platforms at Mangaluru central railway station, it is not possible for them to suffice the traffic density. Therefore a plan was drawn for the creation of the additional 4^th and 5^th platform here. In 2012, a proposal with an estimate of Rs 16.55 crore was prepared and submitted to the railway council. However, the expectation of the inclusion of this proposal in the 2011-13 railway budget only remained as an expectation. However, it was included in the 2013-14 budget and a little grant was also released, but no work has yet been started.

Now the railway council has decided to take up work in one shot for the 5^th platform along with the work on the 4^th platform. But for this to happen, the present pit-lane needs to be relocated. Only after its relocation will the work begin. If the present pace of the processes is to be considered, it seems like it will be taking another four on the least to get completed.

Lack of platform, an impediment for train extension

Due to the lack of platforms, the demand for the extension of many important trains including the Yeshwanthpur – Mangaluru Junction – Yeshwanthpur (train no 16575-576) Gomateshwara Express train are not getting fulfilled. The railways Palghat Division has announced that after the creation of the 4^th platform, the Gomateshwara Express train would be extended to Mangaluru Central railway station. Taking into consideration the present situation and pace on the new platform plan, it seems as if many more years will be required for its fulfillment. This train is presently travelling three times in a week from Mangaluru Junction train station.

“The work on the construction of the 4^th and 5^th platform at Mangaluru central railway station will be taken up. For this, the pit-lane needs to be relocated first. On the completion of all the processes, good and fully equipped additional platforms will be created,” informed Pratap Singh Sami, Divisional Railway Manager, Palghat Railway Division.

Article by Keshav Kunder translated into English by Aaron Dmello