Mangaluru rail projects' timelines depend on NITI Aayog, Finance Ministry approvals

Asked and answered by: Asked by Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta (MP); Answered by the Ministry of Railways (Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw).

What the government said

• Field Location Surveys (FLS) sanctioned for Mangaluru-Shoranur (307 km), Mangaluru-Sringeri-Shivamogga (332 km), and Mangaluru-Hassan doubling (247 km) for Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation.
• Sanctioned works in Mangaluru area include additional coaching stabling lines (₹7.58 crore), new platform lines (₹23.46 crore), and yard remodeling (₹15.41 crore).
• Budget allocation for infrastructure in Karnataka increased from ₹835 crore/year (2009-14) to ₹7,748 crore (2026-27).
• As of 01.04.2026, 25 projects (15 new lines, 10 doubling) totaling 2,935 km and costing ₹49,272 crore are sanctioned in Karnataka.
• Land acquisition status in Karnataka: 6,134 ha acquired (61%) out of 10,123 ha required; 3,989 ha (39%) balance.
• Consequential train accidents reduced from 135 in 2014-15 to 16 in 2025-26 (88% decrease).
• Safety expenditure increased from ₹39,200 crore (2013-14) to ₹1,20,389 crore (2026-27).
• Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems provided at 6,671 stations and Level Crossing Gates interlocked at 10,395 locations up to 30.06.2026.

Also in the document

• The answer states that exact timelines for the Mangaluru projects depend on appraisals and approvals by various stakeholders, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, rather than providing firm dates.
• The government notes that success of projects depends upon the support of the Government of Karnataka, specifically regarding land acquisition.
• The answer does not provide specific staffing or inter-zonal bottleneck details for the Mangaluru corridors, focusing instead on general project status and land acquisition issues.