Will toy train chug again at Kadri Park in June?

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 22, 2017: Balamangala Express, a toy train, is set to chug again at Kadri Park soon, nearly six years after the facility was scrapped  due to technical problem in the train’s engine.

The toy train with two coaches was introduced in 1975 and was running for over three decades. However, technical glitches in the engine halted the joyride. Though several attempts were made to rectify the problem in its engine, the authorities could not run the toy train. With the state government now sanctioning Rs 96 lakh through Bal Bhavan Society, a new toy train with three coaches is getting ready and it will start chugging from June.

Sundara Poojary, deputy director, women and child welfare department, stated that  more funds are required to made this project reality. "The old toy train was running on a track of 1.5 ft width. However, the new train, which is being developed at the railway workshop at Mysuru, will be bigger one and the track width needs to be increased to 2 ft. Meanwhile the shed, where the old train is kept, is not sufficient for the new train. Hence, we have to construct a new shed and also re-align the track," he said adding that the construction work will be taken up by the Nirmithi Kendra.


Once the work of shed and track laying are complete, initiatives will be taken to transport the train from Mysuru, he said. "We have not prepared any plan regarding maintenance of the train and its management. We will either run the train by appointing required staff or think of outsourcing it to a suitable agency," Poojary said.


On the old toy train, which is lying in a defunct condition, Poojary said that no bidders came forward to clear it. "We had invited tenders to clear the old train from the park, but none of the bidders quoted reasonable rate. Hence, we are contemplating on keeping the old train as a monument," he added.