Mangaluru, June 19, 2025: Mangaluru Central, the bustling railway terminus and Karnataka’s coastal gateway, is at the center of a growing uproar as passengers and local stakeholders demand urgent attention from the Railway Ministry and Southern Railway authorities. A recent post by the Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users on X has highlighted a litany of issues plaguing the station, urging
@RailMinIndia
, @GMSRailway
, and other officials to address the long-standing neglect.The picturesque station, with its iconic architecture, serves as a vital link for the Konkan Railway and South Western Railway. However, beneath its charming facade lies a host of infrastructural and service-related challenges. The post, shared on June 18, 2025, outlines critical concerns including the absence of a Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) or MEMU rake maintenance pitline, a dangerous platform-to-coach height gap at the Bay Line, and incomplete platform shelters leaving passengers exposed to harsh weather.
Adding to the woes, the IRCTC stalls lack Kannada- and Tulu-speaking staff, prompting calls for greater inclusion of local vendors. The absence of an IRCTC Executive Lounge, reliance on outdated ICF rakes for trains like the Maveli and Malabar Express, and the non-revival of key routes such as the Navyug Express to Jammu & Kashmir have further fueled discontent. The much-anticipated Mangaluru-Rameswaram train remains absent from the timetable, while the overcrowded MAQ-Subrahmanya Road Passenger train cries out for additional coaches.
Local voices, including netizen Trishan Gangaraju, have echoed these sentiments, criticizing the station’s administration under the Palakkad division and advocating for its transfer to the South Western Railway (SWR) for better management. “This is long overdue. The station must come under #SWR and needs an update,” Gangaraju commented, highlighting the perceived bias towards Kerala-bound trains.
Mangaluru, often dubbed Karnataka’s economic engine and cultural heart, deserves better connectivity, the users argue. Demands include track doubling to Mumbai and Hassan, the regularization of the MAQ-Vijayapura Express, and a dedicated overnight train to Bengaluru. Despite recent upgrades like the introduction of LHB coaches for the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Express and Matsyagandha Superfast Express starting February 2025, the progress is deemed insufficient.
Railway authorities have yet to respond to the outcry. As the city’s importance as a West Coast hub grows, the pressure mounts on @DRMPalghat
, @GMSRailway
, and officials like @AshwiniVaishnaw
to prioritize Mangaluru Central’s development. Will the coastal gem finally receive the attention it deserves? The answer lies in the hands of those steering India’s railway future.
Check the tweet below
Keywords: Mangaluru Central, railway development, Karnataka, Southern Railway, LHB coaches, IRCTC, platform upgrades, train services, coastal gateway, passenger complaints
