Mangaluru: Tenable Benefits in Attaching/Merger of Existing Railway Network of Mangaluru region into Other Zone/Division

Mangaluru is a rapidly growing city in South India, serving as a major commercial, educational, religious, and tourist hub in coastal Karnataka. It uniquely hosts all four modes of transportation: road, rail, air, and sea. The city houses significant industrial establishments like MCF, Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, MRPL, and CAMPCO, among others, and is a pivotal commercial center in Karnataka.

Mangaluru is also renowned for its numerous religious sites such as Kukke Subramanya, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, Kateel, Polali, Mangala Devi, Kadri, Kudroli, Puttur Mahalingeshwara, Karinjeshwara, and Bappanadu, attracting devotees from across the state. The city boasts prestigious educational institutions like NITK Surathkal, Canara Educational Institutions, St. Aloysius College, Sahyadri College of Engineering, St. Joseph's Institutions, Yenepoya University, and renowned medical facilities such as KMC Hospital, AJ Hospital, Mangala Hospital, Indiana Hospital, and Yenepoya Hospital. Mangaluru International Airport serves as a vital gateway for travelers to Gulf countries, cementing its significance regionally and globally.

Despite its multifaceted importance, Mangaluru's railway services lag behind other major cities. The city's railway network is currently split between the Palakkad division of the Southern Railway zone, the Mysore division of the South Western Railway zone, and the Konkan Railway Corporation, resulting in fragmented services and inadequate infrastructure. This disjointed setup hampers efficient coordination and improvement of railway services in Mangaluru.

To address these challenges and elevate Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction into major railway hubs, establishing a separate railway division in Mangaluru under either the Southern Railway or South Western Railway zone is crucial. Consolidating the railway network from Mangaluru to Madgaon and Mangaluru to Sakleshpur/Hassan under a single division headquartered at Mangaluru Central would streamline operations and facilitate the development of essential infrastructure and rail connectivity along the coast as well as in Subrahmanya-Sakleshpur ghat section.

Currently, there are ongoing discussions about integrating the Konkan Railway Corporation into Indian Railways, which would further strengthen the case for establishing a dedicated railway division in Mangaluru. Such a division would not only meet the railway needs of coastal Karnataka but also expedite the introduction of new train services and infrastructural upgrades without navigating bureaucratic hurdles across multiple divisions.

Therefore, we urgently appeal to the railway authorities to expedite the establishment of a separate railway division in Mangaluru under any suitable zone. This initiative is crucial for advancing the region's development and enhancing connectivity for its residents and visitors alike.

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Petition Period: 2nd July 2024 to 2nd August 2024

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