Member of Parliament Mr. Nalin Kumar Katil Submits Memorandum to Union Minister Mr. D. V. Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi on June-06
Demands of the public for improving railway connectivity in Coastal Karnataka
Presently, the Mangalore railway region functions under Palakkad division of Southern Railway Zone, which is headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is a long-pending demand of the people of the port city to form a separate Mangalore railway division and bring it under South Western Railway Zone, which is headquartered in Hubli, Karnataka. Mangalore and the nearby Kankanadi stations are with the Palghat division of Southern Railway. As Palghat is several hundred kilometres away from Mangalore, the people of coastal Karnataka have been alleging that their railway needs are not receiving proper attention. Hence they are demanding that the Two stations be brought under South Western Railway (SWR) and the regions surrounding Mangalore be brought under one division with Mangalore as its headquarters. With the Hassan-Mangalore section of SWR commissioned, it is felt that creation of this division will go a long way in strengthening the railway network of Karnataka and provide better facilities for the region.
When the proposed Hubli-Ankola line gets ready, railway network of the State would get a further boost and propel greater economic activity. This line will also provide connectivity to the Konkan Railway section between Mangalore and Roha at Three points — Mangalore, Ankola and Madagaon. Mangalore is the second biggest city of Karnataka and a commercial and industrial centre. It is also an important tourist place and attracts pilgrims. It is said that the move to create a separate Mangalore Division would not augur well for the Palakkad Division, since the freight revenues are mainly obtained from the Mangalore port. Hence, the demand has not seen the light of day. Now, the hopes have been rekindled with your taking up charge of the Railway Ministry. Mangalore Zone generates revenue from goods transportation to and fro Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli and other parts of Karnataka. This revenue goes to neighbouring state. It may be recalled that more than half of the Palakkad Division was taken to form the Salem Division when Shri R Velu was the Minister of State for Railways. Mangalore railway stations face step-motherly treatment under Pallakkad Division. This has to change on priority basis. Former Railway Minister,Shri Maillikarjuna Khargeji made use of the Ministry to create a separate Gulbarga Railway Division, which was also a similar long-pending demand. With the establishment of Mangalore Railway Division, there will be more facilities and benefits to the passengers and goods traffic. Moreover, it will also boost the economic and social development of Mangalore as well as the entire West coast. It will bring together the existing area of Mangalore Central, Mangalore Junction and New Mangalore Port and Konkan Railway jurisdiction.
