Bangalore-Mangalore Night Train Extended to Karwar, Flagged off
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM/SN)
Mangalore, Oct 18: Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP flagged off the extended Bangalore-Mangalore train (no 16517/16518) at Central railway station here on Thursday October 18. The train will be bifurcated in Mangalore and extended to Karwar and Kannur.
There will be 18 coaches plying from Yeshvantpur to Mangalore, and the train will be bifurcated wherein 13 coaches will head towards Karwar and five towards Kannur.
The earlier 24-coach proposal was decreased to 18, mainly due to safety concerns with regard to Sakleshpur-Subramanya Ghat section.
Prior to the inauguration, a formal stage programme was held wherein Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, K H Muniyappa, union minister of state for railways, MLA UT Khader, Gulzar Banu, mayor, Yogish Bhat, deputy speaker, MP Nalin Kumar, MLA Ramanath Rai, Jayaprakash Hegde, Udupi-Chickmangalur MP and Vinay Kumar Sorake, Piyush Agarwal, divisional railway manager, Palakkad division shared the dais.
Speaking on the occasion, Muniyappa said that the Konkan railway station at Pallakad should submit a proposal for modernization. "In Karnataka, over the past couple of years, we have seen an increase of 1,500 km of track length," he said.
"As many as 90 trains have been included in the Karnataka region out of which 28 have been announced from 2009 to 2012 for Mangalore. Out of these, 16 trains have already begun and the rest will begin to function soon," he added.
He also mentioned that local passenger trains must be implemented for better access.
"Early next year reservation through mobile SMS, e-mails and helplines will be introduced to assist passengers. Every effort will be made to make use of the available technology so as to try and eliminate untoward incidents in the railways," he said.
Oscar in his address said that the railway lines that currently exist should run as many trains as possible. "This will help to reduce bus accidents on roads," he said, and suggested including Puttur and Subramanya as major stations as per public demand.
Agarwal said there has been long-pending desire of the local passengers for a train from Bangalore to Karwar. "This has now been fulfilled," he added.
KRCL managing director Bhanu P Tayal said that Rs 3 crore will be spent on passenger amenities such as better platforms, drinking water, better sanitation, construction of overbridges and subways.
He said that passenger ticket reservation service will begin soon at Kundapur and Suratkal. The bifurcated train will be converted to a full train as soon as possible as the passenger demand is high. He urged Muniyappa to rectify the problem regarding washing of trains at Karwar station, for which Muniyappa replied positively.
Yogish Bhat said that there is a need to upgrade Mangalore central railway station, for which Mangalore City Corporation has set aside funds worth Rs 6 crore.
U T Khader suggested that Ullal and other smaller stations should also be included as they are currently ignored. "Mangalore should get over the colonial hangover and become an independent division instead of seeking permission from Delhi every time," he added.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that Mangalore should be considered as a sub-division instead of Palakkad. JP Hegde said that the stations in Udupi and Karwar will help passengers of the Yashwantpur - Mangalore - Kannur train.
Udupi
Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Oct 18: The Yashwanthpur-Mangalore train that has been extended to Karwar reached Udupi Railway station at 10:50 am. The train was given a grand welcome by the Udupi Railway Passengers Association.
President of the association P L Pais, members Ramachandra Kotian, Shekar Kotian, Janardhan Kotian, John Rebello, S T Kundar, State Government Retired Employees Association president S S Thonse, station master Satish Kumar Abbu were present on the occasion.
Sweets were distributed as part of the celebration.
The train was stopped there for nearly 10 mintues. The gathering also offered flower garlands to the train.