Thu Jan 30 07:48:24 UTC 2025: **Mangaluru MLAs Push for Surathkal Railway Station Upgrade, Konkan Railway Merger**

**Mangaluru, Karnataka (The Hindu) –** Efforts are underway to significantly improve railway infrastructure in the Mangaluru region. On January 30th, 2025, Mangaluru City North MLA Y. Bharath Shetty and Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta jointly laid the foundation stone for development work at Surathkal Railway Station. The project, undertaken by the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), aims to enhance passenger amenities and alleviate pressure on Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction stations.

MLA Shetty advocated for the development of Surathkal station into a full terminal station, citing the significant industrial and educational presence in the surrounding area. He emphasized the support of MP Chowta for this proposal.

MP Chowta highlighted KRCL’s financial difficulties as a hindrance to larger-scale development projects. He championed the merger of KRCL with Indian Railways, a move supported by coastal region representatives and the Railway Ministry. However, the Karnataka government needs to relinquish its stake in KRCL to facilitate this merger. Chowta praised KRCL’s past contributions but noted its lagging infrastructure development compared to Indian Railways in recent years.

Simultaneous improvement work began at Mulki Railway Station, with a total investment of ₹363.84 lakh allocated by KRCL for upgrades at both stations. This includes platform improvements and shelter construction. KRCL’s Regional Railway Manager Asha Shetty announced investments of approximately ₹53 crore for track renewal and ₹26 crore for passenger amenity enhancements across its network. The representatives intend to pursue the merger proposal vigorously to meet public demand.

Read More