Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 25: There is a train service from Mysuru to Mangaluru six days a week. However, the absence of service on Fridays poses a problem for passengers. Allegedly, the train service is not permitted on Fridays due to potential losses for private bus operators, according to disgruntled passengers.
Many individuals from Dakshina Kannada district work in Bengaluru and Mysuru. A significant number of them rely on train travel for cost-effective transportation, especially on company holidays. While there is a six-day-a-week train service from Mysuru to Mangaluru, the lack of service on Fridays is a hindrance.
As employees in Mysuru have Saturdays and Sundays off, it is common for them to travel to Mangaluru after Friday evening. However, since there is no train service on Fridays, they are compelled to travel by bus, incurring higher expenses.
Bus travel from Mysuru to Mangaluru is twice as expensive as train travel, particularly on weekends when bus fares are higher. Moreover, bus seats are often fully booked despite the higher prices. On normal days, bus fares are around Rs 600 , but on weekends, they can go up to 1,000 Rs. In contrast, train tickets cost between Rs 250 and Rs 300.
Allegedly, the train service is not allowed on Fridays due to the influence of the private bus lobby, which fears a higher influx of passengers from Mysuru to Mangaluru. Social workers claim that the lack of determination among elected representatives and officials contributes to the problem.
During the rainy season, the ghat sections connecting Dakshina Kannada district, particularly the Sampaje Ghat linking Mysuru and Mangaluru, become unsuitable for traffic. When all the ghats are closed, buses coming from Mysuru have to rely on alternative routes. This, in turn, leads to increased traffic on the Shiradi Ghat. Therefore, train service becomes crucial during such times. Passengers insist that train service should be provided from Mysuru on Fridays as well.
In response to a request from Mysuru MP Pratapasimha, the Central Railway Board has granted permission to operate the Bengaluru-Mangaluru Express (Via Mysuru) night train, which previously ran three days a week. There is also a demand for extending this train service to Karwar. Such an extension would benefit various constituencies, including Murudeshwar, accessible from the Mysuru side. As Saturdays and Sundays are holidays for most companies, people from Mysuru also have the opportunity to visit the holy places in Dakshina Kannada district with their family members.
It would be ideal to have train service between Mysuru and Mangaluru seven days a week, with Fridays being especially important. An employee based in Mangaluru, emphasized the significance of such service for those commuting to city for work.
Allegedly, trains are not permitted to run on Fridays due to the influence of the private bus lobby. Authorities claim that the cancellation is due to platform-related issues. However, if the timings were slightly adjusted, the problem could be resolved. Hanumant Kamath, president of the Western Rail Yatri Development Committee, stated that canceling the train service on a day when it would be useful to the public is not the right approach.