Mangalore: Central railway station to be upgraded, get new platforms

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Jul 29: Railway officials from Palakkad and Mysore divisions, MCC officials and several representatives from other departments participated in the railway grievance redressal meeting chaired by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel at Circuit House here on Monday July 29.

Regarding the demand to open the old level-crossing road near APMC from Baikampady industrial area, a railway official said due to various accidents being reported on the railway crossing, the railway board has banned level-crossing in view of safety. About the construction of railway overbridge (ROB) at Baikampady, he said it will be completed in the next 2 years.

The construction of a railway underbridge (RUB) at Bajal level-crossing will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 4.96 crore, with the government and the MCC each putting in 50 percent of the share. The government has already sanctioned Rs 2.66 crore and out of the remaining amount to be paid MCC, Rs 19.39 lac is yet to be remitted, said a railway official from Palakkad.

The soil testing work is in progress at the place earmarked for the construction of railway underbridge, after which further work will be undertaken, the official said. In reply to this, MP Nalin Kumar asked the official to fix a date for laying the foundation.

In view of the increase in the number of people residing in Jeppu Mahakali Padpu and Jeppu Kudpadi areas, the demand for both ROB and RUB was made. The construction work at Jeppu Mahakali Padpu being borne by the government has encroachment issue. In case of Jeppu Kudpadi, the deposit amount has not been remitted by MCC, for which Nalin Kumar asked the official concerned to take a decision soon.

World class facilities at Mangalore Central station

Briefing about the proposed plan of upgrading the Mangalore Central station to international standards, an official said the project is being carried out by public-private partnership and the consultancy work has been handed over to Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organization (KITCO) which will identify the private firm for partnership.

The railway official also showed the site analysis report of the plan to the MP.

Before finalizing the plan, the KITCO official will make a presentation before the officials, he added.

Construction of the 4th and 5th platform at Mangalore Central station

As per the demands of the people, the 4th and 5th platform at Mangalore Central station will be build at a cost of Rs 16.19 crore, including construction high-level platform at Rs 2.55 crore, compound wall at Rs 27 lac, proposed pit line at Rs 2.7 crore, signal arrangement at Rs 55 lac and several others.

In addition, issues related to cleaning/maintenance and parking system at the station were also discussed in the meeting.

Nalin Kumar also asked the RTO and KSRTC officials to soon make arrangements for city bus permit to start KSRTC bus at Kankanady railway station (MJN).

In reply to the demand of extending CST-Mangalore superfast train up to Mangalore Central, a railway official said it was not possible to extend the train facility due to space constraints at the station, as three trains namely the Kurla Express, Chennai Express, and Trivandrum Express arrive at a similar time.

About the the Adarsha station plan for Kabaka Puttur station which comes under Mysore division, an official said the first phase of work at a cost of Rs 45 lac is in progress and will be completed by February 2014. The station building also faces problem of water leakage for which provision has not been made in this phase, he said.

For the renovation work at Subramanya station, an official from Mysore division said repair work worth Rs 14 lac is in progress which will be completed by February 2014.

MCC commissioner K Ajith Hegde was also present.