Puttappa calls for creation of 2 railway divisions under SWR

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 8: Patil Puttappa, the eminent journalist, has called for the creation of separate railway divisions under the South Western Railway (SWR) with headquarters at Gulbarga and Mangalore during a seminar on the works of V. K. Gokak, the Jnanapith award winner, held at Mangalore University. 

Mr. Puttappa further explained the matter by saying that efforts had been made in the past to create a railway division with Mangalore as headquarters; however those concerned were afraid that it would be attached to the proposed railway zone for Kerala, to which the Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed belongs. However, Union Minister for Law M. Veerappa Moily should ensure that a Mangalore division is created under the SWR. Union Minister for Labour M. Mallikarjun Kharge should also ascertain that a railway division with Gulbarga as headquarters should be formed under the SWR, said the journalist. 

Currently, Mangalore forms part of the Southern Railway’s Phalghat Division with its headquarters in Chennai; and Gulbarga forms part of the Solapur Division of Central Railway with headquarters in Mumbai. 

Mr. Puttappa said that he had already spoken to the two ministers in this regard and had requested them to take the required steps. He said that the Southern Railway and Central Railway were partial towards the railway areas of Karnataka; and people have been demanding the bringing these railway areas under the SWR for a long time. Since the SWR has only 3 divisions at present, it can be expanded to 5 divisions easily. He said that he hoped Mr. Moily and Mr. Kharge would meet the demands of the people of Karnataka.