Operation of the toy train stopped in 2013

Four years after it stopped operation, the new children’s train (toy train) is likely to start chugging at the Kadri Park by November.

The children’s train started operating at the Kadri Park in 1979. The Bal Bhavan Society operated it till 1983. The train was operated by private parties between 1984 and April 2013 with frequent disruptions owing to problems with the engine. The operation of the children’s train stopped completely in April 2013. On the request of the district administration, the Southern Railway assessed the train and certified that was not fit for operation. The district administration has floated tender for disposal of the old train engine and the two bogies.

The district administration has taken up the work of having a new train and track at a cost of ₹1.09 crore. The Department of Women and Child Welfare has granted ₹80 lakh.

J.R. Lobo, MLA for Mangaluru South, told presspersons on Saturday that the Railway Workshop in Mysuru has been assigned with the task of building the engine and three bogies for the new train.

Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Sundara Poojary said each bogie would accommodate about 70 persons. The bogies will have caricatures of popular cartoon characters. Work was on to install handles and other articles for the safety of children. Mr. Poojary said the engine and the three bogies would be ready in another two months.

The Dakshina Kannada District Nirmiti Kendra has been given the task of laying two-foot wide track for the new train. Project director of the kendra Rajendra Kalbhavi said the new track will be laid on a concrete base. Mr. Lobo said the two works would be completed shortly and the train would be operational by November.

“I hope to get Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to inaugurate the toy train and the musical fountain (which is coming up at the deer park opposite to the Kadri Park),” he said.

Mr. Lobo and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer M.R. Ravi on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the work of laying the track.