Sat Apr 12 14:33:30 UTC 2025: ## Mangaluru Gets Railway Boost: New Vande Bharat, Station Upgrade, and Extended Services

**Mangaluru, Karnataka, April 12, 2025** – Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna announced significant railway improvements for the coastal Karnataka region on Saturday. The key announcements included the allocation of a Vande Bharat sleeper rake to Mangaluru once production begins, the extension of the Mangaluru Central-Kabaka Puttur Passenger train service to Subrahmanya Road, and plans for a joint railway-highway tunnel project through the Shiradi Ghat.

The extension of the passenger train service, inaugurated on Saturday, was met with enthusiasm from local officials, including Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader and Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta. Khader highlighted the disparity in railway development between Karnataka and Kerala, urging faster progress in the region. Chowta emphasized the significant effort required to reinstate the passenger service to Subrahmanya Road.

Somanna also addressed other crucial demands. He confirmed that the Railway Ministry will undertake the construction of all necessary railway under and over bridges to eliminate level crossings, a significant safety improvement, previously a 50/50 cost-sharing project with state governments. Furthermore, he stated that the Ministry is collaborating with the Union Road Transport Ministry on a combined tunnel project for the Shiradi Ghat, potentially enabling the operation of two Vande Bharat Express trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

The Minister also confirmed the approval of the detailed project report (DPR) for upgrading Mangaluru Central Station to world-class standards, with tenders to be released soon. The event also saw the participation of several MLAs and railway officials. The announcements mark a significant step towards improving railway infrastructure and connectivity in the coastal Karnataka region.

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