MP Kota Srinivas Poojary meets CM D.K. Shivakumar, seeks Karnataka’s support for Konkan Railway merger

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jul 15, 2026: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday met Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru and urged the state government to support the proposed merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) with Indian Railways to accelerate the railway’s modernization and expansion.

Submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Poojary said the Konkan Railway has seen limited development over the past three decades and continues to operate largely as a single-line railway. He stressed that merging KRCL with Indian Railways is essential to facilitate infrastructure upgrades, including the long-pending doubling of railway tracks and overall development of the coastal rail network.

He pointed out that the benefits of the Konkan Railway are currently limited mainly to the people of the coastal districts. According to him, integration with Indian Railways would enable the Central Government to undertake large-scale infrastructure projects and improve connectivity across the region.

Poojary also recalled that when veteran leader George Fernandes helped establish the Konkan Railway, participating states invested equity in the project. He noted that Kerala and Goa have already surrendered their equity shares to facilitate the merger process and urged the Karnataka government to do the same in the interest of the railway’s development.

The MP informed the Chief Minister that fellow coastal MPs Capt. Brijesh Chowta and Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri also support the merger and are committed to securing the Konkan Railway’s development through the Central Government.

Kundapur MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi was also present during the meeting and shared his views on the issue.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar assured the MP and the MLA of the Karnataka government’s full cooperation in efforts aimed at the development of the Konkan Railway.