Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 15: Citing shortage of passengers, the southern railway has decided to permanently remove five compartments of the intercity express train between the city and Margao. With this, the train, which hitherto was operating with 16 compartments, will be left with only 11 compartments.

Six of the compartments are reserved, while the others are second class coaches. With effect from April 12, five second class coaches have been removed from this train. A release said that this train will henceforth have only 11 compartments.

The issue of shortage of passengers for this train had recently come up during the dialogue between Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Konkan Railways chairman and managing director, Sanjay Gupta. Then the representatives of KCCI had pointed out that the time the train leaves the city, 8.15 am, coincides with the Karwar train timing. It was suggested to change the time of its departure to 9.30 or 10 am as it was hoped that this would result in increase in the number of passengers.

The southern railway, instead of implementing this suggestion, has scrapped five compartments of the train on permanent basis.