Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 11: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has raised the issue of bringing Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction railway stations under the South Western Railway (SWR) zone for better administration during the question hour in Parliament on Wednesday.
The MP highlighted the need for this shift as a supplementary question related to railways, following a written response from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
Captain Brijesh Chowta inquired about the government’s plans to establish a high-capacity rail line between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, aiming to improve passenger and freight connectivity. He sought details of the proposed project, including feasibility studies, timelines, and budgetary allocations.
Additionally, he questioned whether challenges in the existing railway route, such as speed and capacity limitations, had been identified, and what steps were being taken to address these issues. He emphasized the benefits of such a railway line for trade, tourism, and regional development.
Union minister's response
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, in his written reply, stated that the broad gauge single-line section between Hassan and Mangaluru (183 km) was commissioned in 2006 by converting the meter gauge into broad gauge through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with a major share of the Karnataka government.
He noted that due to the poor financial health of the SPV, the Ministry of Railways has proposed taking over the line. This would enable capacity augmentation projects such as doubling and electrification, given its strategic importance in connecting Mangaluru Port to Karnataka’s hinterland.
A final location survey (FLS) for doubling the railway line between Bengaluru and Mangaluru has been sanctioned in two parts:
- Mangaluru to Hassan (247 km)
- Hassan to Chikkabanavara (Bengaluru) via Kunigal (166 km).
Additionally, a survey for the third and fourth lines between Bengaluru and Tumakuru (30 km) has also been approved.
The minister further noted that 56 projects, including 19 new lines and 37 doubling works, spanning a total length of 6,159 km and partially or fully located in Karnataka, have been sanctioned over the last three years. As of April 1, 2024, 31 projects covering 3,840 km at a cost of Rs 47,016 crore are at various stages of planning and implementation. Of these, 1,302 km have been commissioned, with an expenditure of Rs 17,383 crore incurred up to March 2024.
Further discussions
During the supplementary question session, Captain Brijesh Chowta asked for updates on addressing the ghat stretch and the progress of the feasibility study being conducted in this regard.
In a brief response, the Union minister stated that since the Hassan-Mangaluru railway line is a joint venture project, contributions from the Karnataka government are essential for the project to move forward.
Captain Brijesh Chowta’s follow-up
The MP later tweeted, stating his commitment to pursuing the matter with the Karnataka government to expedite the project. He highlighted the transformative potential of the Hassan-Mangaluru railway line for the region and its socio-economic development.