The Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KKDRUA) has said the South Western Railway and people’s representatives should utilise integration of Mangaluru Railway region with SWR as momentum to aggressively execute further Railway development projects in the region.

Congratulating Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta on Railway Board’s August 21 decision to bifurcate Mangaluru from Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division and bring it under SWR’s Mysuru Division, Association Secretary P. Edward Jeni in a letter to the MP said the landmark step fulfils a long-pending demand of the region and significantly boosts connectivity across Karnataka.

The Kanyakumari Association in Tamil Nadu, like passenger associations in coastal Karnataka, has been fighting alleged step-motherly treatment of the region by Southern Railway’s Thiruvananthapuram Division.

The Association said while this jurisdictional shift is a historic victory, it must mark the beginning of active development, not the end of people’s efforts. The railway authorities and people’s representatives should use it as momentum to aggressively execute further railway development projects in the region.

Post-transfer growth

It said the integration should be treated as a springboard for active development with push for new projects, speeding up stalled works and ensuring Mangaluru receives fair share of budgetary allocation from SWR.

A joint task force comprising people’s representatives and senior officials from SWR and Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., should conduct a comprehensive survey of Mangaluru Central and Junction Stations to assess present bottlenecks, execute essential passenger amenity upgrades and draft a Master Plan to develop Mangaluru as a Mega Terminal.

The task force should also undertake an operational audit of the existing pit lines at Mangaluru and shift primary maintenance of select long-distance trains to destination stations outside Mangaluru to decongest the region. Pit lines capacity should be enhanced to accommodate 24-coach trains to maximise services.

There is a need to undertake station-by-station audit across all railway stations under Mangaluru region to identify missing infrastructure, including full platform sheltering, improved lighting, and modern, clean toilet facilities. Focus should also be given to providing escalators, lifts, and foot overbridges (FOBs) for seamless platform accessibility while platform lengths at suburban stations should be extended to accommodate full-length express trains.

It suggested introduction of new daily express trains connecting Mangaluru to major cities in Karnataka, including Bengaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Kalaburagi etc., and extension of long-distance trains terminating at Bengaluru to Mangaluru to improve direct interstate and intrastate connectivity.

Freight handling

The Association suggested to develop dedicated freight handling terminals and improve port connectivity with New Mangalore Port (NMP) to leverage the full economic potential of the SWR network.

As the Karnataka government remains mute over the Railway Ministry’s decision to bring Mangaluru Railway Region under South Western Railway (SWR) and the Keralam government led by Congress’ V.D. Satheesan vehemently opposes the move, Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to throw his weight behind the decision favouring the State.

“This is not about taking a position against a neighbouring State. It is about placing Karnataka’s considered position on the railway administration and developmental requirements of Mangaluru formally before the Union Government. I believe the people of Karnataka can reasonably expect our State Government to stand behind this long-pending demand and support its implementation,” he said in an August 24 letter to Mr. Shivakumar.

Capt. Chowta said the August 21 notification of the Railway Ministry bringing Mangaluru under SWR’s Mysuru Division from Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division was the culmination of people’s aspirations from the region ever since SWR was formed in 2023. The changes are made keeping in view the operational requirements of the railway network.

Important for Karnataka

The MP said the revised arrangement is important for Karnataka as a whole. Mysuru Division already administers the Hassan-Mangaluru section, which provides the principal rail connection between the coast and the interior of the State. Bringing Mangaluru within the same divisional framework will allow the coastal terminal, the ghat section and the inland corridor towards Hassan and Mysuru to be planned and administered in a more integrated manner.

Maritime gateway

Mangaluru is also Karnataka’s principal maritime gateway. The New Mangalore Port serves the industrial and commercial hinterland of the State and depends substantially on rail connectivity for movement of cargo. The revised arrangement, therefore, gives Karnataka an opportunity to approach the Mangaluru-Hassan-Mysuru axis as an integrated passenger and freight corridor connecting the coast and the port with the interior of the State.

Capt. Chowta recalled his efforts in pursuing the integration issue with the Centre after getting elected to the Lok Sabha.

While Mr. Satheesan is learnt to have approached the Prime Minister against the bifurcation, Keralam MPs cutting across party lines too have opposed the decision.

Recalling Mr. Shivakumar’s first meeting with Karnataka MPs after assuming the office, that one must rise above party differences on matters concerning Karnataka, Capt. Chowta urged the former to apply the same principle to the Mangaluru Railway issue too.

While leaders and MPs from Keralam belonging to Congress have taken a clear public stand seeking reversal of the decision, it would be difficult for Karnataka people to understand why their government is keeping silent on a formally notified decision directly concerning Karnataka.

He urged Mr. Shivakumar to convey to the Union government Karnataka’s support for implementing the August 21 decision.