Mangaluru:Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has called for a 25-year master plan to integrate the development of railways, ports and industry in coastal Karnataka.At a consultation meeting with people’s representatives, stakeholders and officials at the DC’s office Friday, Vaishnaw urged Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary to lead the planning.“Along with the industry, MRPL, New Mangalore Port and the general public, enter into a good consultation exercise and develop a 25-year master plan. Once we have the master plan, then step by step we can keep executing it,” he said.Vaishnaw said jurisdictional confusion between Southern Railway and South Western Railway had hindered Mangaluru’s development.“We have recently solved it. From Oct 15 onwards, Mangaluru is under South Western Railway. This has been attempted for the last 35 years, and we have finally done it now. I must thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi because such decisive leadership is possible only with him,” he said.He said the Railways had also taken up doubling the Bengaluru–Mangaluru railway line, calling it a key project.“Despite the ghat section, we are progressing with the detailed project report [DPR] for this railway line. I have told the team that even if we do not wait for the full DPR, wherever there is a plain stretch and we do not have too many problems, we should start the work early,” he said.The minister said work had begun to develop stations including Mangaluru Junction, Mangaluru Central and Udupi. A new station is also proposed near Mangaluru airport.Sushil Kumar Singh, chairman of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), called for doubling the Mangaluru–Bengaluru railway line and improving hinterland rail links to ease cargo movement and strengthen regional logistics.After flagging off the inaugural Vande Bharat Express from Mangaluru Junction, the minister travelled on the train and spoke informally with rail users at Kabaka Puttur and Subrahmanya Road railway stations.MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said the Vande Bharat Express had arrived at the sacred land of Puttur Mahalingeshwara and that Vaishnaw had announced Rs 98 crore to develop Mangaluru Central railway station.Restore Navayuga ExpressMLC Kishore Kumar Puttur urged the Railway minister to restore the Navayuga Express, discontinued from Mangaluru during the COVID-19 pandemic..
