Mangaluru–Udupi Metro Stalls on Paper, Residents Voice Disappointment
Feasibility report submitted, but lack of state action leaves coastal residents waiting as long pending transit plans remain unrealised.
India, Feb 07 : The proposed Mangaluru–Udupi Metro project has yet to move beyond the planning stage, raising concerns among residents who had hoped the long discussed transit link would ease congestion and support the region’s rapid urban growth.
The Dakshina Kannada District Urban Development Cell had earlier been instructed by the district in charge minister and the Additional Chief Secretary to prepare a feasibility report. Inputs were gathered from several agencies, including NMPT, MRPL, the city police commissionerate, NITK, the Forest and Transport departments, Mangalore University, the Airport Authority, tourism and health departments, trade bodies, and the district industries centre. The report was subsequently submitted to the State government.
However, nearly a year after the exercise, there has been little visible progress, dampening expectations across the coastal belt.
Long-pending demand
Calls for a metro system in Mangaluru date back several years. The project was mentioned in the 2019 State Budget presented by then Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, which proposed feasibility studies for metro networks in Mangaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi-Dharwad. The study for Mangaluru, however, was not submitted at the time.
With a port, airport, railway connectivity and national highways, Mangaluru is considered a key logistics hub. Officials note that metro services introduced in Bengaluru in 2011 helped reduce traffic pressure, strengthening arguments for similar infrastructure in the coastal region.
“We gathered feedback from various departments and organisations before submitting the feasibility report to the government,” said Dr G. Santosh Kumar, Project Director of the Dakshina Kannada District Urban Development Cell.
List of unrealised transport plans grows
The metro proposal now appears to join a series of transport initiatives announced for the region that have yet to materialise, including monorail and skybus projects. The absence of follow-up action has intensified frustration among residents, who continue to wait for a modern mass transit solution linking Mangaluru and Udupi.
