Mangaluru under SWR: Forum hopes integration heralds new era of railway infrastructure development and services
A local rail advocacy group in Mangaluru is optimistic about the region's integration into the South Western Railway, despite concerns over recent train bypasses. The forum is calling for dedicated services and improved infrastructure to ensure the city is not sidelined by new express routes.
Why it matters
Regional connectivity and equitable access to transport services are major concerns for local economic growth and public convenience.
Notwithstanding what it calls certain temporary setbacks, including special trains bypassing Mangaluru, the Dakshina Kannada District Rail, an online forum of patrons, hopes that railway infrastructure and services in Mangaluru Region will get a boost with the region’s integration with the Mysuru division of South Western Railway (SWR) from October 1.
As news of the integration was filtering out, festival special trains operated from the State capital to coastal Karnataka (Yevantpur-Madgaon-Yesvantpur) for the Ganapati Festival and Gandhi Jayanthi extended weekend skipped Mangaluru altogether and were operated via Padil bypass, the forum stated. This was despite MP Captain Brijesh Chowta seeking festival special trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. “We welcome new trains and new infrastructure, but development must include Mangaluru and not bypass the city. Mangaluru deserves to be served and not bypassed,” it said.
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