Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Oct 8: In a major development for travellers, the long-awaited direct train service connecting Tirupati and Udupi Kundapura is now operational, thanks to the persistent efforts of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojari. This new service also links Hyderabad, enhancing regional connectivity.

The Indian Railways has approved the extension of the Kachiguda-Mangaluru train to Murudeshwar, departing from Kachiguda and stopping at Renigunta station near Tirupati. The train will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, leaving at 5 pm and arriving in Hyderabad the next morning at 11 am.

This initiative, which has been a decade in the making, was included in the MP's agenda during his first hundred days in office. It connects key locations such as Kundapura, Udupi, Surathkal, and Mulki to prominent pilgrimage sites including Tirupati and the Kollur Mookambika Temple.

The announcement, timed with Vijayadashami celebrations, is expected to significantly benefit the many devotees travelling to Tirupati, who previously had to rely on bus services or travel via Bengaluru due to the lack of direct trains.

After 76 years of independence, the Konkan Railway now links all southern states, allowing easier access to sacred sites. MP Poojari expressed gratitude to Indian Railways officials and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for their support.

This new train service marks a transformative step in rail connectivity for the region, with local leaders and the Coastal Rail Passenger Welfare Committee praising the initiative as a boon for travellers.