M’luru to get VB sleeper train soon: Somanna

Mangaluru: Union minister of state for railways V Somanna, said that Mangaluru will get a Vande Bharat sleeper train soon. "Railways will get Vande Bharat sleeper coaches within two months. Mangaluru will also get it," the Minister said after flagging off the extended services of the Mangaluru Central-Kabaka Puttur passenger train to Subrahmanya Road at Mangaluru central railway station on Saturday.
Stating that Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central railway stations are all set to be upgraded, the minister said that a master plan has already been prepared, and tenders will be floated after meeting officials in Delhi shortly. "The ministry has already released Rs 19 crore for various development works at Mangaluru Junction station. While 85% of the works were completed, the remaining work will be completed by Aug. Meanwhile, development works at Mangaluru Central Railway Station will be completed in two years after the tender process. The Subrahmanya Road railway station is being developed under the Amrit Bharat station scheme, and works will be completed by September," said Somanna.
He highlighted that the Subrahmanya Road station will have an escalator, which will help physically challenged and aged devotees visiting Kukke Subrahmanya temple. Memu train will also be introduced on the route. A total of 41 railway stations are being developed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, he added.
Indian Railways took up 10,000km of Kavach, an automatic train protection system, to prevent accidents due to human error resulting in signal passing in danger and over-speeding. Of this, 1,800km are in Karnataka, he said. The minister also promised a sanctioning of required RoBs and RuBs in Dakshina Kannada after receiving the project report.
Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta suggested that, after the electrification work is completed, the extended train to Subrahmanya Road should be upgraded as a Memu train. He also appealed the minister to streamline the coordination meetings that are convened once in three months, with three divisional railway managers. "Hand over the responsibility of convening DRM level meetings to an officer, and this will solve the local issues related to the railways," he said.
Assembly Speaker UT Khader said that communication and transportation help in the development of a region. This extension of the train will help in the development of the region and will benefit devotees visiting Kukke Subrahmanya from all over the country. He suggested a united effort by people's representatives and govts to ensure the overall development of the coastal region.
Stating that there are many railway crossings that people still use, speaker urged the minister not to close those facilities all of a sudden, citing safety reasons. "Make proper alternative arrangements before closing railway level crossings," he urged.