Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Sep 12: The high rail fares on the Mangaluru – Vijayapura train that runs mainly on Tatkal basis has remained the same for a long time. This train has been running on Tatkal basis since it started.

The route that the Train 07377/78 takes is the most sought after. It runs from Vijayapura via Bagalkote – Gadag – Haveri – Byadagi – Harihara – Davanagere – Hassan – Sakleshpura – Kukke Subrahmanya to reach Mangaluru.

The railway board has informed that it has no intention to regularise the train on a permanent basis. Therefore the ticket fares have continued to remain high since the time the service was started two years ago.

It was decided to run this train during the Covid-19 pandemic and it ran for a few months. It was stopped later. It was resumed after some time going by popular public demand. But it still runs on Tatkal basis.

Passengers who take this train are made to book tickets on Tatkal basis which is expensive when compared to the normal fare.

The train is being monitored by South Western Railway. The notification of extension gets released just before the Tatkal duration gets over. The ticket fare is higher by about 25% to 100%.

Economically poorer sections of society use this train most of the time. While ticket fares from  Mangaluru to Hassan for sleeper coach on other trains is Rs 180, the fare on this train is Rs 385.