Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 24: Pro-Kannada protestors led by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike district president Sanoor Satish Salian, staged a protest at Mangalore Central railway station here on Friday July 24, against what they termed as the injustices being meted out by the railways to the people of Karnataka coast. After holding protest and shouting slogans for some time, the protestors handed over a memorandum to the station master, addressed to the union railway minister Mamata Banerjee, containing the following demands, among others.

Two day-trains, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, should be run from the city to Bangalore. The extension of Bangalore express train to Kannur should be cancelled and instead, the train should go to Karwar. Matsyagandha Express should be given a stop at Kankanady railway station. Both the railway stations in the city should be brought under the South-western Railway zone, or a separate railway zone should be created for Karnataka coast. 70% of the railway jobs should be earmarked for the locals. Officials posted in the local railway stations should be conversant with Kannada. Proposed Mumbai-Karwar super fast train should be extended to Mangalore.

The leaders also wanted enhanced security at level crossings, building of over-bridges wherever feasible, laying of new lines connecting centres like Kollur, Moodbidri, Venur, Dharmastala, Subrahmanya etc., closing down of Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Company Ltd and to give priority to the completion the tracks on Mangalore-Hassan-Shravana Belagola-Bangalore direct rail route.

Through the memorandum, the Vedike warned that the Vedike will take up strong protests in the coming days, if the concerned do not respond to the demands positively.