Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Jun 10: Suggestions/complaint boxes pertaining to the railways department were inaugurated at the offices of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLC Ivan D'Souza in separate ceremonies.

At the office of MLC Ivan D'Souza, the suggestions/complaint box was officially inaugurated by mayor Jacintha Alfred.

"The complaints/suggestions submitted by people through the complaint box will be addressed to railway department officers, and every three months through the 'Konkan Railway and Southern Railway Adalat' a solution will be provided," said MLC Ivan.

Addressing a press meet later at his office, Ivan D'Souza said, "As soon as I was appointed southern railway consultative committee adviser, I began recieving a number of complaints/suggestions from people. I have already participated in the Adalat and all the issues and suggestions were discussed and officials concerned were directed to look into the matters.

"Public participation in the railway activities is very limited and that is the reason the railway budget is very less and no new trains have been introduced for Karnataka. In order to encourage public participation in the day-to-day activities of the railways, a suggestions/complaint box has been installed at my office. The box will be opened every 15 days and complaints/suggestions will be sent to respective departments of the railways.

"MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has also promised to work hand-in-hand with me in this good cause and open a suggestions/complaint box at his office too," he added.

"In the year 2011-12, almost 34.72 lac passengers travelled from Mumbai to Mangaluru, and many more were on waiting lists. In order to reduce the problems faced by people, we will demand two super fast trains under Konkan Railways from Mangaluru Central in the next budget. The Konkan Railways is charging 40% more than other normal trains since the year 1997 and till now there is no information about how much money was collected from passengers for laying new tracks," he added.

"The major problem faced by the passengers in the Mangaluru railway station is language. Ticket officials have been speaking the language of another state. The change in the schedule of trains is not properly communicated to the passengers. I will request the deputy commissioner to appoint staff at railway stations and open an information centre with personnel who speak the native languages. If there is a shortage of fund, I am ready to pay from the MLC fund. My main concern is that passengers should not face any problems while travelling," he said.

Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde and others were present at the occasion.

Meanwhile, MP Nalin Kumar too inaugurated a suggestions/complaint box pertaining to the railways at his office housed in the DC's office premises. In a press note, he said that this has been done in fulfillment of the promise he had made in a meeting with railway officials on May 18 last month.