Abhijith Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 19: The new railway station at Jokatte under Palakkad division of Southern Railways which was under construction since 2014 has finally been completed. The new railway station is close to Mangalore International Airport and is likely to come as a blessing for air passengers too.
Constructed under an estimated budget of Rs 50 crore, the station is yet to recieve green signal to start functioning.
The project was first initiated in the year 2012 to help commuters reach airport with ease and also reduce congestion at Mangaluru Junction Railway station. The UPA government during the tenure of railway minister K H Muniyappa had instructed officials to prepare a detailed report for the railway station at Jokatte. The construction went in full swing from the year 2014.
The brand new railway station is just 4 km away from the airport making Mangaluru the first city in the state to have a railway station close to an airport. Jokatte railway station is the 95th railway station in Palakkad division of Southern Railway. Once this railway station becomes functional, people can have easy access to Mangalore International Airport.
The new railway station will house two platforms and a subway connecting the platforms with the station building. Modern electronic interlocking is provided for the signal system at the station. The station building has a waiting hall and a booking office.
The mandatory permission for signal from Thokur station of Konkan Railway is not required now for dispatching goods trains from Mangaluru Junction to Panambur. This will also enhance effective goods handling at Panambur.
New track
The track doubling work of 5.9 km between Jokatte and Panambur stations along with tunnel work at Kulashekar has now been completed. Earlier, the single track facility from Mangaluru Junction railway station to Panambur was leading to interruptions in railway crossing and delay for passengers. A new road is under construction which will facilitate commuters from Maravoor and KBS Jokatte to access the new railway station.
New Pejawar Railway Station?
There is a request from locals residing in and around Jokatte that the new railway station should be named as Pejawar Railway station. Pejawar Math is located just a few kilometres away from the new station. It is said that an appeal has been already made to railway minister Suresh Prabhu and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on the same.
Speaking to daijiworld, PRO of Southern Railway Palakkad division Gopinathan said, "The new railway station at Jokkatte with double track is awaiting green signal from the Southern Railways committee. Southern Railway has created a valuable asset by commissioning Jokatte railway station. At present, the station is functional for operational purposes and the station will be opened for passengers soon. Jokatte station will help to ease the movement of trains between Thokur and Panambur stations. Besides improving the operational flexibility, double track between Jokatte and Panambur and the station building at Jokatte would contribute towards better safety as well."