Now Reading: Southern Railway clears Bunder goods shed to build ballast yard
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Southern Railway clears Bunder goods shed to build ballast yard
Southern Railway's Palakkad Division has begun clearing the old goods shed at Bunder in Mangaluru to build a ballast yard. The move follows the shifting of freight operations to Ullal in November…
The Story in Brief
Southern Railway's Palakkad Division has begun clearing the old goods shed at Bunder in Mangaluru to build a ballast yard. The move follows the shifting of freight operations to Ullal in November 2023 after public resentment over frequent train movements and level crossing closures. The vacant yard was then used to stable passenger trains, which again caused gate closures and protests from civil society groups and elected representatives. Now, with tracks being modified for ballast storage and a compound wall planned, the Amba Maheshwari Seva Trust has demanded that the Railways coordinate with the Mangaluru City Corporation to ensure free traffic flow before proceeding. The proposal to hand over the railway land to the corporation remains pending with the district administration.
The Indian Opinion
The Railways' flip-flop at Bunder highlights a troubling habit of solving one problem only to create another. First, freight trains were moved to Ullal to ease traffic, but passenger stabling there choked level crossings. Now, a ballast yard promises more rail activity and gate closures. Residents are right to demand a comprehensive plan before the next move. The question is will the Railways engage the civic body and public before laying a single stone, or will history simply repeat itself?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
