The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the Union Government to form a separate railway division for Mangalore.

In a letter to the Railway Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi, the KCCI has said that the creation of a railway division for Mangalore will help local people.

Speaking to Business Line , Ms Lata Kini, President of KCCI, said that Mangalore is now connected by Southern Railway, South-Western Railway and Konkan Railway lines.

freight handling

Apart from this, Mangalore plays a major role in the freight handling for railways in the region.

A separate division would help focus on developing freight and passenger traffic in the region. The new division should come under the Hubli-headquartered South-Western Railway zone, she said, adding that the entire coastal Karnataka should be part of the new division.

upgradation

Ms Kini also stressed the need for upgrading Mangalore Central to world-class railway station.

Seeking the need for one more night train on Mangalore-Bangalore route, she said the present night train on this stretch is running to its full capacity.

Deployment of additional trains from Bangalore to Mangalore and Mumbai to Mangalore should be considered during festival season and during summer vacations.

This will help in the free flow of additional traffic during these periods, she added.

vinayakaj@thehindu.co.in