Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Nov 14:  The Hindu Yuva Sena president of Sakleshpur taluk H Narayana Alva warned that if the rail authorities do not flag-off the Bangalore-Hassan-Mangalore train on Friday November 16 as promised, then the Yuva Sena would intensify its agitation along with other organizations. It would be in the form of token removal of rails and stopping the movement of goods trains.

Speaking to media persons recently Alva said that the railways had announced that passenger trains would become operational on this route two years ago, but services were yet to begin till date. He further stated that when they began their agitation a few days ago, the railway authorities in Mangalore had promised them that the passenger train service would be started on Friday, November 16.

Other well-known personalities from the Sakleshpur taluk also met the railway minister and the surface transport minister in the capital recently. In fact the railway minister Lalu Prasad had assured that train services would start soon. But, the promises had not been carried out, he lamented.

According to Alva as the Shiradi Ghat road on NH 48 being closed for past week for repairs, it has caused a great deal of inconvenience to passengers on the route. All buses from Bangalore to Mangalore via Hassan and Sakleshpur were being re-routed via Belur. Hence it has become a monumental task to even to reach Hassan from Sakleshpur, he pointed out.

According to him the commencement of the Bangalore-Hassan-Mangalore train, would have been a boon to passengers as well as to students who were studying in Hassan.