Mangaluru Railway Region to be brought under one administrative setup: Somanna

Minister of State for Railways plans to streamline administration in Mangaluru Railway Region, addressing infrastructure and passenger amenities concerns.

Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna on Saturday, said the Ministry will bring Mangaluru Railway Region under one administrative setup soon.

He was responding to queries by reporters on the sidelines of flagging off of extended services of Mangaluru Central-Kabaka Puttur Passenger to Subrahmanya Road here.

Successive MPs, including the incumbent Capt. Brijesh Chowta, civil society organisations and railway passenger associations had said as the region was administered by three railway zones, Southern, South Western and Konkan Railway, infrastructure and passenger amenities development had taken backseat. They had urged the Ministry to bring the region under SWR’s Mysuru Division.

Mr. Somanna said he was aware of the practical difficulties and assured the Ministry would sort out the issue.

Regarding the demand for the merger of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., with the Indian Railways, Mr. Somanna said State governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra, two among the five stakeholders in the Corporation, were yet to formally convey their willingness relinquishing shares in the corporation. Once that was done, the Ministry would take the final call, he said.

Speaking at the formal programme earlier, Capt. Chowta urged Mr. Somanna to institutionalise quarterly meeting of Divisional Railway Managers of Mysuru and Palakkad, and Regional Railway Manager of Karwar to review various railway development works in the region. Responding to this, Mr. Somanna said it would be given a final shape in consultation with the Railway Board CEO and chairman indicating the Ministry’ desire to bring the region under one setup instead of holding regular meetings.

Regarding the absence of government railway police stations on the KRCL network in Karnataka, Mr. Somanna said the issue would be examined. Reporters told him that GRP stations were functioning in Mangaluru Central and Madgaon in Goa; in between the 300-odd km network, no GRP station was available. This was affecting registration and investigation of crimes against people and their properties, they said.