Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jul 15: Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel has said that he has informed the union railway minister that the extension of the Bangalore-Mangalore train to Kannur can not come into effect till a day-train starts running between these two cities. He claimed, that he has emphasized with the railway minister that the decision if any about the extended train touching Mangalore Central railway station and increasing reservation quota for Mangalore passengers can be discussed only after the day train becomes operational.

He said, he has made it clear that there is no question of compromising on the issue of running a day train between Bangalore and Mangalore and that running of this train can only partially compensate for the injustice done to the coastal people in the railway budget.

He welcomed the decision taken by the union government to include Mangalore City Corporation within the ambit of Jawarlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and thanked it for considering his memorandum submitted  to finance minister Pranab Mukharjee and law minister M Veerappa Moily in this respect, favourably.

At the same time, the Dakshina Kannada district committee of Jayakarnataka organization has decided to stage ‘Rail Roko' agitation in the first week of August, if the government does not take a firm stand on the issue of running a day-train between Bangalore and Mangalore. The organization will also hold protests against the extension of the night train to Kannur.