Udupi: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Sunday that priority would be given to doubling of lines on the Konkan Railway route. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for Innanje Railway Station here, through videoconferencing from Madgaon, Goa.

The upcoming Innanje Railway Station, to be built at a cost of Rs. 11.34 crore is located between Udupi and Padubidri on the Konkan Railway route.

The construction of the station, which is 2.5 km from National Highway 66 near Pangala, will be completed in two years.

This station will serve the people of Shankarapura, Subashnagar, Katapady, Manchakal and Shirva villages. Presently, the passengers at Innanje are dependent on Udupi Railway Station to go Mumbai, Bengaluru and other places and have to travel for about 12 km by road.

Mr. Prabhu said that since the Konkan Railway had a single line, it could not handle much railway traffic. The Konkan Railway was constructed two decades ago. There were not many railway stations then. Hence, two places – Innanje near Udupi and Kadwai in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, would get new railway stations now.

The Konkan Railway had tried many experiments to understand what would benefit the people. One of these had been to provide passengers with ethnic food.

E-catering will also be provided on Konkan Railway. Drinking water would be provided at Re. 1 on select stations on the Konkan Railway route.

The Indian Railways was planning to introduce semi high speed trains between Delhi and Mumbai, and Delhi and Chandigarh. If the Konkan Railway track from Mumbai to Goa was strengthened, a semi high speed train between these two destinations could be introduced.

The Indian Railways had also strengthened its complaints redressal mechanism. It was essential that the Konkan Railway worked to meet the expectation of people, Mr. Prabhu said.

Shobha Karandlaje, MP, said that she had urged Mr. Prabhu to include New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) under the Konkan Railway. This would increase its profits. She had also sought a survey for Chikkamagaluru-Sringeri-Karkala railway line, she said.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC, Gitanajali Suvarna, Shilpa Suvarna, zilla panchayat members, Nalini Rao, president of Udupi Taluk Panchayat and others were present for the laying of the foundation stone.