Mangalore: Mallikarjun Kharge, union railway minister flagged off three trains namely Mangalore Central – Madgaon intercity, Mangalore Central – Kachiguda bi-weekly and Mangalore Central –Bhatkal demu trains in Mangalore, on Sunday, February 23.
Addressing the gathering he said, “The Railway Safety Commission has limited the number of passenger trains on the Mangalore-Bangalore route to just two owing to securing reasons. It needs to revise this rule. A letter to the Railway Safety Commissioner has already been written in this regard.”
Kharge also said that measures will be taken to strengthen tracks in the Ghat sections.
“I have laid emphasis on Karnataka after being designated as the railway minister. I’ve sanctioned a grant in-aid of over Rs 500cr in the past nine months. I’ve worked hard to strengthen the state. Plans undertaken to develop Gulbarga department have been a success. Railway tracks are being laid so as to connect Chikmagalur-Sakleshpur-Bangalore. Three new trains have been flagged off from Mangalore today. Two new trains have been sanctioned on the Konkan Railway tracks in the recent budget,” he said.
Minister’s quick response: MP Hegde
“I congratulate minister Kharge for providing facilities such as new trains, extension of Tokur-Bhatkal ride to Mangalore Central and railway track to connect Chikamagalur-Bangalore among others. All these developments have taken place in a very short time post the request was placed before him” said K. Jayaprakash Hegde, MP, Udupi-Chikmagalur.
Need Mangalore Railway Department: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel
Mangalore Palghat, Mysore, Konkan Railway is a mess. The problem is unlikely to be solved if continued to function in the same manner. Hence, Mangalore must be separated from Palghat Department and thus it given a separate identity,” urged Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, Dakshina Kannada.
Priority to Karnataka: Minister Ramanath Rai
“Mallikarjuna Kharge, as a minister for railways has put Karnataka on the top of his priority list. He has sanctioned numerous pro-public schemes in the past nine months” said Ramanath Rai, minister for forest, environment and ecology and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister.
JR Lobo and Moideen Bava, MLA’s, Monappa Bhandary, MLC, Rakesh Mishra, general manager, Southern Railways and Anand Prakash, unit manager, Palghat were present among others.
The dignitaries on the dais were felicitated with bouquets.
