Mangaluru : Through video conferencing from Delhi, Suresh Prabhu, Union minister for Railways on Friday August 18 symbolically laid the foundation stone for doubling of Netravati-Mangaluru section and for foot overbridge at Mangaluru Central railway station. In Karnataka at,Gadag, Baiyappanahalli, Bhanapur, Shimoga town, Yadgiri, Holenarasipur, Chikkodi and Mangaluru station inauguration took place simultaneously.

Similarly MP Nalin Kumar Kateel along with Mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation, Kavith Sanil , Meenakshi shanthigodu President of  Zilla Panchayath  and Naresh Lalwani, Regional Railway Manager other dignitaries inaugurated the programme at Mangaluru Central railway station by lighting the lamp.

Addressing the programme, railway minister Suresh Prabhu said, a total of Rs 835 crore was alloted to railways for Karnataka. The grant was increased to Rs 2,200 crore during 2014 to 2017, which means an increase of 163% from the previous government’s budget. In 2017-18, budget it got increased to Rs 3,174 crore, which is the highest allocation to the state till now. Rs 60 crore was sanctioned for doubling works, one electrification and other new projects.

“By this Prime Minister Modi vision for railways is moving a ahead as planned. Passengers comfort and better service, are the one on which we are directing our efforts,” he added.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, Mangaluru is going to be a Smart City, and Rs 163 crore has been sanctioned under Amrut scheme. Padil railway bridge has also been completed, with the railway and the state government each contributing 50 percent of the funds. Jeppu Kudupady bridge will also be completed if the MCC allots land for it, he said.

The state government needs to provide 40 acres of land to bring PPP model in Mangaluru. There have been a lot of demands from the people of Mangaluru with regard, he added.

The project of doubling the 1.5 km long stretch of Nethravati to Mangaluru Central was sanctioned by the ministry of railway in the year 2016-17. The project to construct an additional platform line at Mangaluru Central station has been sanctioned during 2017-18 at a cost of Rs 6.8 crore, he said.