Rly minister lays foundation stone for doubling work at

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today laid the foundation stone for doubling of the railwayline in the Nethravati-Mangaluru section and the foot over bridge at Mangaluru Central railway station here through video conference from New Delhi.
Nalin Kumar Kateel MP, city mayor Kavita Sanil andother dignitaries inaugurated the programme at the MangaluruCentral railway station by lighting a lamp.
Addressing the audience through video conference, Prabhu said several projects were being launched at eight different railway stations across Karnataka.
Only Rs 835 crore was allotted to railways for the state earlier. The grant was increased to Rs 2,200 crore during 2014-17 period, an increase of 163 per cent from the previous government's budget.

During 2017-18, the budget had beenincreased to Rs 3,174 crore.
This was the highest everallocation to the state and the government had now sanctionedRs 60 crore for 10 doubling works, an electrification schemeand other new projects being taken up.

Mayor Kavita Sanil, who also spoke, congratulated the Railways for the initiative takento launch two new projects in Mangaluru Central railwaystation.
She also demanded that Mangaluru be made a separate railway division.
Kateel said Dakshina Kannada district had received Rs 1,500 crore in the last three years.
Mangaluru was set to become a Smart City and several development projects were being initiated by the Centre.

Five railway stations, including including Mangaluru had been identified under PPP model to be developed into world-class railway stations, hesaid.
The proposed foot overbridge will connect platformsone with two and three and measure 25 metre in length and 3 metre in width. The total cost had been estimatedat Rs 90 lakh.
The project of doubling the 1.5 km stretch ofNethravati to Mangaluru Central was sanctioned by the Railwayministry in 2016-17.
The detailed project report had beensubmitted to the railway board.
The project, expected to costRs 28.03 crore, also envisages modification of two road overbridges.