Mangaluru: The redevelopment works of Mangaluru Junction Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) is in its final stages, with the project cost now estimated at Rs 15.80 crore, up from the initial budget of Rs 10.58 crore, according to the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway.

As part of the upgrade, the station now features a new entrance arch and a widened approach road with a footpath, kerb wall, and a minor bridge to enhance connectivity, as reported by The Hindu.

The station building facade has been modernised with Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels, and new sunshade elevations. A new porch has also been added at the terminal building.

The redevelopment focuses on improving passenger amenities, accessibility, and overall infrastructure at the station. The roofing of the station building and crew booking office has been replaced with Mangaluru tile-pattern ceramic tiles, while old windows have been swapped for uPVC (Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) units. The booking office and concourse have been upgraded for improved passenger convenience.

Significant work has also been undertaken on the platforms, including 1,450 sqm of Kota stone flooring, 650 sqm of coping tile work, and the installation of 17 new platform shelters—10 on Platform 1 and 7 on Platform 2.

Additional infrastructure includes a new parcel office building, a waiting hall, and the development of the second floor of the crew booking office. The circulating and parking areas have been improved with RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) and RR (Random Rubble) retaining walls to support expansion, added the report.

Extensive electrical, plumbing, and telecommunication works were also undertaken, covering the parcel office, waiting hall, booking office, concourse, porch, and station building façade. Tile work on the stairways of the Foot Over Bridge has also been finished.

The Palakkad Division of Southern Railway said that the remaining minor works will be completed soon, giving Mangaluru Junction Railway Station a modern look and upgraded passenger facilities.

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Rajouri/Jammu (PTI): One person died while seven others, mostly children, were hospitalised after allegedly consuming a wild vegetable in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said on Saturday.

The incident was reported from Mohra village in the Kotranka subdivision, where members of two families consumed a wild vegetable following which they started showing symptoms of food poisoning on Friday evening, they said.

The affected persons were initially shifted to the Community Health Centre in Kandi and later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital Rajouri for specialised treatment.

Officials said an elderly man, identified as Mohammad Hussain (60), died during treatment, while seven other members of the two families are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

“Prima facie, it is a case of food poisoning, but the matter is still under investigation,” a doctor said.

Officials said an investigation into the incident has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the poisoning.