Govind D. Belgaumkar - The Hindu
MANGALORE, Jun 10: Is the Railways deferring the introduction of the day-train between Bangalore and Mangalore owing to commercial considerations?
The Rail Yatri Sangha, which is spearheading the movement for the day-train, suspects that the reason behind the delay in introducing the train might be viability factor because the Railway Board and the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) have given different explanations for the delay. In response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, the Railway Board said on April 1 this year that the train number 6515/6516 Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Express via Arasikere was not introduced because of operational restrictions imposed by the CRS.
Commissioner for Railway Safety K.J.S. Naidu had, in response to an RTI application by Anil Hegde of the Puttur-based Rail Yatri Sangha on 7-11-2008, said: “As (the) Commission does not impose any condition or give suggestions, Railways have to follow the norms already laid down.”
Board’s version
The Railway Board, on the contrary, said the absence of catch siding was the reason for not introducing the day-train to Bangalore. Catch siding is a small stretch of track to divert the runaway trains from the mainline.
It is specially designed with an upward incline coming off a downward track with loose sand to bring the runaway train to a halt.
Mr. Hegde pointed out that the board had stressed that allowing passenger train would affect the movement of goods trains. The board said: “This is a ghat section with 1:50 gradient (descending 1 metre for every 50 metres) and four stations.” Only two of the four stations had catch sidings. “If a passenger train has to be allowed in the up direction, the section from Donigal to Srivagilur has to be clear.
Design
Similarly in the reverse direction, the section from Srivagilur to Dongial has to be clear to run passenger trains. Overall, four up and four down goods train path will be lost if the train is introduced, in addition to causing heavy detentions to goods trains,” he said. Mr. Hegde said this gave rise to the doubt that commercial interests were overriding the passenger-interests for the Railways. The Rail Yatri Sanghas of Udupi, Byndoor and Puttur had decided to take up the matter with the CRS in Bangalore on Wednesday.
Hedge said that a member of SWR Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee and member of the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Prakash Mandoth would be participating in the Wednesday’s meeting.
The CRS granted an appointment to the organisations following a letter written by Hegde.