Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, April 12: Minister of State (MoS) for Railways V Somanna flagged off the extended passenger train service from Mangaluru Central – Kabaka Puttur – Subrahmanya Road on April 12 at Mangaluru Central railway station.

Speaking on the occasion, V Somanna said, “After I became the minister, I visited Mangaluru and conducted a meeting along with MP Capt Brijesh Chowta regarding railways. I have also directed the concerned for the upgradation of Mangaluru Central. Rs 19 crore was released for the development of Mangaluru Junction Railway Station, of which 85% of the work has been completed, and tentatively the work will be completed by August 25.”

"A master plan has been prepared for the development of Central Railway Station. Tender will soon be invited, and the work will be inaugurated in two years' time. Even the work of the Subrahmanya Road Railway Station will be completed by September 2025. It was a long-pending demand to extend the Mangaluru Central – Kabaka Puttur train to Subrahmanya Road, and we will work on converting it into a MEMU train as per the demand of Capt Brijesh Chowta,” said V Somanna.

MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said, “It is always difficult to restart a train which was once in service, as it was a long-pending demand. In just six months, the proposal was sanctioned and today it was flagged off due to Minister V Somanna.”

He also demanded that the train be converted into a MEMU train once electrification is completed, and added that in the coming days, the frequency of the train will be increased.

“Even the DPR will be jointly prepared by NHAI and Railways so that railway and road go parallel at Shiradi Ghat, which will be good for overall development. Even the tender will soon be called for the development of Mangaluru Central Station. Responsibility must be given to certain officials to conduct coordination meetings once every three or four months,” he said.

Speaker U T Khader said, “I thank minister Somanna and also MP Capt Brijesh Chowta for his constant effort in extending train service to Subrahmanya Road. This will help in the overall development of the district. Subrahmanya is a holy place and this train service will help more tourists to utilise this train service.”

MLA Vedavyas Kamath said, “It was a long-pending demand to extend the train service to Subrahmanya Road, which has been flagged off today. Thanks to MP Capt Brijesh Chowta for his effort. In the coming days, two railway stations—Mangaluru Central and Kankanady—will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore, which will be inaugurated in the next two years.”

The new schedule includes three daily trips:

• Departure from Mangaluru Central at 4 am, reaching Subrahmanya Road at 6:30 am.

• Return journey begins at 7 am, reaching Mangaluru Central at 9 am.

• A third trip will depart from Mangaluru Central at 5:45 pm.

MLAs Dr Bharath Y Shetty and Bhageerathi Murulya, District BJP president Sathish Kumpala, regional manager of the Palakkad division Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, and others were present.