Udupi Railway Station Set for Major Rs 110 Crore Transformation
Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary has made a significant announcement regarding the future of Udupi railway station. He revealed that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has agreed to release a substantial sum of Rs 110 crore. This funding will be used to develop Udupi railway station into a world-class facility under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
International Standards for Passenger Amenities
The MP stated that the passenger amenities at the railway station will see major improvements. These upgrades will align with international standards as part of the scheme. Poojary shared this news after unveiling various recently completed works at the station on Wednesday.
The completed projects include platform surfacing and a shelter for the foot overbridge. These developments came at a cost of Rs 2.6 crore. The MP emphasized the importance of these initial steps in the station's overall enhancement.
Urgent Need for Track Doubling
Poojary also highlighted a critical infrastructure need for the region. He pointed out the necessity of doubling the tracks between Mangaluru and Karwar. The existing single line currently causes significant delays for trains operating on this route.
"We do not know whether the Konkan Railway will be merged with the Indian Railways or not," the MP acknowledged. "But the doubling of the tracks is very essential. The minister responded positively to our demand. All major works under Konkan Railway need to be taken up immediately."
Vande Bharat Express Expansion Plans
The MP outlined several proposals to improve rail connectivity for coastal Karnataka. He noted that people from three coastal districts would benefit greatly if the Vande Bharat Express from Bengaluru could run all the way to Karwar.
Additionally, Poojary suggested that the Madgaon-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express should be extended to Bengaluru. He mentioned that another demand to extend the Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai remains unfulfilled at this time.
"I am confident that the railway ministry will consider the demands of coastal Karnataka positively," Poojary expressed optimistically.
Potential Renaming of Udupi Station
In another development, the MP addressed a local proposal regarding the station's name. The Udupi City Municipality has submitted a request to rename Udupi railway station as Sri Krishna Railway Station. Poojary confirmed that this demand will be forwarded to the railway ministry for consideration.
The announcement event saw the presence of several dignitaries. MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Shetty, and various railway officials attended the unveiling ceremony at Udupi railway station.
