D V S Rail budget welcomed by coastal districts

D V S Rail budget welcomed by coastal districts

www.mangaloretoday.com

Mangalore, July 9, 2014: Union Minister for Railways D V Sadananda Gowda’s maiden budget presented July 8 in Parliament is seen as a well balanced delivery of rail services to the people of Karnataka as well as the entire nation.  It has been welcomed by the people of his home town too.

However, the long-pending demand of the people of the region -a separate division for Mangalore, has not found any place in the budget and Mangaloreans are hopeful of good in the future.

Among the welcome nneds met by the Minister in his budget are chiefly : Survey for Panathur-Kaniyur railway line, Express train between Mangalore-Bangalore, doubling of track from Ullal to Surathkal via Mangalore, passenger train between Baindur and Kasargod and feasibility survey for Shimoga-Sringeri-Mangalore line.

Lauding the budget, Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivridhi Samithi President, stated that the people of coastal districts were bit disappointed over the failure to announce a separate division from Mangalore. “As a MP of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, D V S Gowda had fought for the creation of a separate division for Mangalore.

He is well aware of the problems and need for the creation of the division. At present, Mangalore is included in Palghat division and all the profit is taken away by the division.” Praising the move of the Minister for proposing to attract private domestic and FDI in infrastructure projects and pursuing private-public partnership to boost the finances of the cash-strapped railways, KCCI President Mohammed Ameen said that the PPP project for port connectivity is likely to include Mangalore-Hassan doubling work. Rail users expressed the view that the new Rail Minister has been more than fair to all areas of India.

According to reports, ’Railway Yathri Sangha (Puttur)’, Technical Advisor  said that  it is a good budget generally. A new Express train to connect port city with the capital city has been announced. A need long awaited by the people of coastal district for an additional train to Bangalore from Mangalore which is great demand for travel. The announcement of Baindur-Kasargod passenger train will also benefit a good  number of people and  will provide inter-state commuting. The Minister’s nod for survey of the proposed Panathur-Kaniyur railway line in the Railway Budget will give a boost to the plan for a railway line connecting Kanhangad in Kasaragod district and Bangalore via Panathur-Kaniyur. It will provide connectivity to people of Sullia to Capital city of Bangalore it is expected.

In fact, the Southern Railways had conducted a preliminary survey for the proposed railway line between Kanhangad and Panathur in Kasaragod district, as the survey work was included in the Railway budget for 2008-09.  The distance between Panathur and Kaniyur is 31 kms and the line from Kerala has been envisaged to join at Edamangala, near Kaniyur in Karnataka on Mangalore-Hassan railway line.

The demand of a train between Subrahamnya-Delhi and regularisation of summer special train between Mangalore and Ahmedabad have yet to be fulfilled. In fact, the doubling of line from Ullal-Surathkal will help in introducing additional trains to Madgaon. A firm request is expected to be put forward to the Minister to extend Nizamuddin-Madgaon train to Mangalore soon.

It is heared from knowledgeable sources that the budget portrays the vision of Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in changes in the way the Railways function. The port connectivity is a major announcement, which will boost the economy. Welcoming Shimoga-Sringeri-Mangalore railway line survey, Congress leader P V Mohan said “with the increase in number of trains, the demand for the creation of Mangalore division will get more weightage. Creation of temple circuit is a new proposal which was not visualised so far. It is noted that entrepreneur said that the budget has presented a reality. The budget has far sighted proposals and has proposed a  passenger friendly programmes.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Association of Physically Challenged Persons,   President  has said that the association has been demanding facilities for handicapped persons in Railway stations. The proposal on battery operated vehicle in railway stations is a welcome provision. The budget has made an attempt to provide railway connectivity to North Karnataka as well.

Minister Gowda’s brother D V Suresh who works in Konkan Railways said “I am happy that my brother has presented a good budget. With the increase in rail fare by 14.8 per cent, the income of the Railways will increase. The budget has given emphasis to safety, cleanliness and good food for the passengers. Announcement of a bullet train is a welcome move.” He said that the Minister has responded positively in general to the whole nation.