Mangalore Junction as world-class station not feasible, says samiti

The move of the Dakshina Kannada district administration to recommend Mangalore Junction as the railway station in the city to be developed to world-class standards has not gone down well with rail enthusiasts even as Southern Railway is unaware of any such move. Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, during a review meeting here on Saturday, said that land available on the Mangalore Central Railway Station premises was insufficient to upgrade the station to world-class standards. Instead, Mangalore Junction could be developed to world-class standards as the administration was willing to acquire about 60 acres of land in exchange for 30 acres of Railway land at the Goods Shed. The then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had, in 2009, announced upgrading the Mangalore Central Railway Station, among other railway stations in the country, to world-class standards. Space available Reacting to the district administration proposal, president of the Paschima Karavali Railway Abhivriddhi Samiti G. Hanumanth Kamath said that the Mangalore Central Railway Station has historical significance. Ms. Banerjee had intended to develop the station to world-class standards, while preserving the heritage structure, he said. On space constraints at the Mangalore Central Railway Station, Mr. Kamath said that the Railways had abundant land available around the station. Some of the buildings in non-use and those housing non-ancillary activities may be shifted out of the premises to make way for development, he said. On the other hand, government land was not available around Mangalore Junction. The station, located away from the main road, is also not feasible to attract private participation for development, Mr. Kamath pointed out. Hence, the State government and the Ministry of Railways should take immediate steps to develop Mangalore Central Railway Station to world-class standards, he said. Meanwhile, Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division Anand Prakash told The Hindu that Southern Railway was not aware of any move to choose Mangalore Junction for development. At the same time, the detailed project reports prepared by Ernakulam-based KITCO Ltd. on developing Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Mangalore Central railway stations as world-class stations have been submitted to the Railway Board. The board has entrusted the report to Rail Land Development Authority to explore a public-private partnership to develop these stations, he said. Beyond this, the division is not aware of any other move on developing these stations, Mr. Prakash added. -The Hindu