Disappointed over inordinate delay in public works, says MP

Internal problems of the Railways, public works and other departments are resulting in procrastination in public works, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said.

He was chairing the Railways’ meeting at Zilla Panchayat Auditorium in the city on Thursday.

The MP, expressing disappointment over the inordinate delay of Bajal Railway Under Bridge widening, directed the officials to complete the work soon. Also, the doubling work of railway tracks between Nethravathi- Mangaluru Junction and Thokur should be completed soon, he added.

The Mysuru Railway division is not showing interest in the works and noted that DRM Atul Gupta has not attended a single railway meeting, he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar said steps are being taken by the district administration, respective Gram Panchayats and by the Railway Department towards the closure of six unmanned railway level crossings.

Regarding lack of amenities in Ullal Railway station, the official concerned said that there is lack of funds for D category stations.

The MP said he will hold the meeting of Railways, Transport Authority and Police Department at his office on July 22 at 9 pm. Later, he will conduct a railway track visit, he added.

Public woes

General public too voiced their complaints against Railway Department. Lakshminarayan from Bantwal said illegally mined sand is dumped in the land belonging to Railways in Parangipet and is being transported to Kerala illegally.

The empty staff quarters of railway department in Bantwal has become an abode of miscreants. Also, the waste from Pudu Gram Panchayat is being illegally dumped in Parangipet, in the land belonging to Railway Department, he added.

To an issue raised by Hanumanth Kamath on the apathy of autorickshaw facility at Kankanadi Railway station, the MP directed the officials to start a prepaid autorickshaw counter. Kamath said more than the prescribed rate is being collected from passengers at the autorickshaw prepaid counter in Mangaluru Central Railway station.

The general public complained that even the Central government’s bilingual policy is not effectively implemented at the Central Railway Station and Mangaluru Junction. The passengers are not given information in Kannada, they complained.

MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir Nazir, Southern Railway ADRM Rajkumar and Konkan Railway Regional Engineer R I Patil were present.