MANGALURU: The Karnataka portion of Southern Railway in Mangaluru got covered in this year’s budget as Mangaluru Junction – Panambur doubling got Rs 40 crore and is targeted for completion by May 2021, said John Thomas, general manager, Southern Railway.
He, along with Principal Heads of Departments, held a virtual press meet in connection with allocation for Southern Railway in Finance Budget 2021-22.
Besides this, the GM said, under Vision 2024 an additional Platform Line and provision of new 24 coach pit line in lieu of existing 18 coach pit line at Mangaluru Central under traffic facility works are in progress and is targeted for completion by March 2022.
He gave a presentation on the budget allocations for Southern Railway, starting with the six pillars of Budget 2021-22. He stated the main highlight of this year’s budget is that Indian Railways has been allocated an amount of Rs 1,07,300 crore under Gross budgetary support (GBS). Of which Southern Railway has been allocated a substantial amount of Rs 3,855 crore, including Stores and Manufacture Suspense.
He said that allocation under capital/GBS is very key as the land acquisition for doubling and new lines have to be done under capital. This will give a fillip to the infrastructure in Southern Railway, he added.
Thomas also highlighted that Southern Railway will complete electrification of all the broad gauge routes in its jurisdiction by December 2023.He pointed out that an allocation of Rs 146 crore will give a big push for Signal & Telecom Infrastructure. Major works involve setting up of Modern centralised Train Control System in Chennai- Gudur and Chenni – Renigunta route, Train Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS), LTE and Train Management System. He also stated that vistadome coaches will be introduced in the scenic sections which are to be identified.