mangalore today

Innanje railway station construction, foundation laid


Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, July 11, 2016: Speaking through video conferencing after laying foundation stone for the new railway station building at Innanje,  Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said Indian Railways are according  passenger-friendly measures top priority.  He said many innovative changes are presently being worked out in the Railways.


Suresh PrabhuMinister Prabhu said the work order to take up the doubling of the Konkan Railway track is issued and the work has already started. He said more railway stations would be built for passengers’ convenience.

Prabhu said ethnic food stalls are set up all over track routes to serve fresh food to commuters. E-catering is also another popular programme. Online ticket facilities have been provided. Also, a survey is being undertaken to install elevators in a phased manner. The passengers are offered water at a cost of Rs 1 per litre as the commuters earlier had to pay Rs 14 to 15 per litre. Mechanised laundry programme is also under way, he noted.

He said Tejas, one among innovative ideas, will be made available for the passengers which briefs the details of the facilities offered at trains to the commuters. Hamsafar is another programme and Anthyodaya trains from different places will be introduced shortly. The trains which start at night and reach their destinations in the morning under the programme, Uday, are being envisaged. Telco Company in Spain is contracted for the trial run of the semi high seed trains. If feasible and successful, the trains will be introduced from Mumbai to Delhi, Mumbai to Ahmadabad, Chennai to Bengaluru, Vijayavada to Bengaluru, Mumbai to Goa and on other routes. This will reduce the journey time, he added.  The redressal mechanism is revamped, which is one of the best in the world. The response time is wonderful and is a record, he claimed.

The Innanje railway station is being built at a cost of Rs 11.34 crore. The station will be helpful for the residents of Shankarapura, Katapadi, Manchekal, Shirva and Padubidri, he noted.

MP Shobha Karandlaje said the railway station work at Innanje will complete in 24 months. She said the station will be made good for the commuters in the region, besides passengers’ convenience. She said the demand for the doubling of the track, electrification and the inclusion of the NMPT port to Konkan Railways has been submitted to the government. Konkan Railway is running at a loss. The demand for a survey of the railway track connecting Chikkamagaluru-Sringeri-Karkala- Mangaluru is also before the government, she added.