Work on two additional platforms, platform number 5 and 6, at Mangaluru Central Railway Station, which was supposed to be completed by February 2023, came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday, April 19. Photo credit: Anil Kumar Shastri
Work on two additional platforms, platform number 5 and 6, at Mangaluru Central Railway Station, which was supposed to be completed by February 2023, has come to an abrupt halt. Apart from the laying of tracks, the status of work on Wednesday 19 April remained the same as in November 2022.
Work on new platforms, a nearly two-decade-old demand, was approved in the Rail Budget 2016-17. The actual work started in September 2022 after the demolition of the old pit line on completion of the new pit line. In the budget of 2023-24 also Rs 4.76 crore was sanctioned for the additional platform.
While the existing three platforms handle approximately 27 departures and arrivals, the new platform will significantly increase the train handling capacity at Central. He would also have fulfilled the long-pending demands of extending Mumbai CSMT-Mangaluru Junction Superfast, Yesvantpur-Mangaluru Junction Gomateshwara and Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction Special Express trains up to the middle. Also, more trains towards Mumbai and other parts of Karnataka could be started from Mangaluru Central itself.
President of West Karavali Railway Passenger Augmentation Committee G. Hanumant Kamath told Hindu The delay in completing the new platform work indicates that the Palakkad division and the Southern Railway have continued their step-motherly treatment towards Mangaluru, despite earning substantial revenue from the area.
‘platform barrier’
The zone was citing ‘platform obstruction’ as the reason for extending three popular trains from Mangaluru Junction to Central and will continue to do the same in future. All of them were approved by the Railway Board to operate up to Mangaluru Central; Yet the zone had a reason to stop them at Mangaluru Junction.
In fact, SR introduced the Mangaluru Central-Coimbatore Intercity Express after the CSMT-Mangaluru Junction Superfast was denied entry into Central citing ‘lack of platforms’. How did the platform become available for the Coimbatore service which was not available for the CSMT Superfast, he wondered.
Only the earthwork and track laying work for the new platforms had been completed, while the remaining work would take not less than six months to complete, Mr Kamath said. Basic amenities including platform shelters, overhead electricity traction, flooring, rest rooms and seating, expansion of foot over bridges etc. require considerable time, he said.
Palakkad division officials were claiming that the project would be completed by February and it was later extended to March 31 and then to April 30. The present Divisional Railway Manager Yashpal Singh Thomar said, “It will be completed now,” without indicating any specific date.