More measures needed to make Mangaluru Railway region friendly to commuters: Ivan D’Souza

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MLC Ivan D’Souza addressing a press conference at his office in Mangaluru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Welcoming the decision of the Railways to bring Mangaluru railway region under the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway (SWR) from October 1, Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza said the decision should pave the way for more commuter-friendly measures for the region.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. D’Souza said he was among the activists of the region who had been demanding for long to bring the region under SWR. “Good that Indian Railways conducted a study and issued a notification to bring the region under SWR. It is strange that the BJP’s elected representatives of the region have remained silent without reacting,” he said.

When referred to the statement of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar about “better coordination among Southern States” in reaction to Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan opposing the move of Railways, Mr. D’Souza said: “District In-charge Minister U.T. Khader immediately commended Railways for the decision. I had no opportunity to brief Mr. Shivakumar about the issue.”

Mr. D’Souza said he was ready to be part of a delegation if Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta led one to Mr. Shivakumar to press for further improvement of rail connectivity between the Mangaluru region and other parts of Karnataka.

Regarding the setting up of a bench of the High Court of Karnataka in Mangaluru, Mr. D’Souza said Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru had assured him that a committee would be formed to look into the demand, following divergent views expressed by some district bar associations. The Chief Justice will visit the region shortly, he said.

On the ongoing process of choosing the party president for Dakshina Kannada and other district units, Mr. D’Souza said he had served at various levels in the party organisation and could effectively function as the district unit chief. “The District Congress chief post is not a decorative one. In the present Abhiyan (to select the president), there is no need for an aspirant to file an application. I know the responsibility (of a district unit president),” he said.

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