Railway ministry, Karnataka sign MoU for suburban railway system

January 16, 2017

Bengaluru, Jan 16: The Karnataka government and the Railways Ministry today signed a memorandum of understanding in what is seen as a step towards realising the city's long standing demand for a suburban railway system to address its notorious traffic congestion. The MoU for the development of suburban railway system in Bengaluru was released by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a function here.

Counting on the credentials of Bengaluru as a global city and technology capital of the country, Prabhu said it is the duty of the government, at the Centre and the state, that transportation needs of the people are taken care of. With this in mind, a decision has been taken to start suburban railway system for the city, he said. A special company would be set up for the project and it will be financed through an "innovative" way, Prabhu said.

"It is no longer possible for either the state government or the central government to find money for the budget from their normal revenue source to finance entire infrastructure needs.... so we have to find an innovative way," he said, adding it would not come into the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act of the state government. Pointing out that there were equity related concerns raised by the state government, Prabhu said they would be looked into.

Siddaramaiah, who expressed reservation over the Centre's draft suburban rail policy's financing pattern, said "the Minister (Prabhu) has now spoken about adopting innovative ways of funding for which the state government will provide its fullest cooperation. We are also fine with involving of the private partners." Pointing out that the draft mentions financing pattern as 20 per cent by central government and 80 per cent by the state government, he said it would be burden on Karnataka. He proposed a 50:50 financing pattern, and requested that the Centre should share the land cost also.

At the function organised by the South Western Railway, Prabhu and Siddaramaiah unveiled the plaque for laying of foundation stone for new coaching terminal at Baiyyappanahalli aimed at decongesting other terminals in the city. They also flagged off KSR Bengaluru/Yesvantpur-Shivamogga train and MEMU train between KSR Bengaluru and Ramanagara.

Promising that Bengaluru-Mysuru track doubling would be commissioned before March-end, Prabhu also sought the state government's cooperation in quadrupling of the line between Bengaluru to Whitefield as it will help in easing the traffic congestion.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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