Mangalore: Train to Bangalore - Final Preparations of 'D' Day in Full Swing
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore, Dec 7: Daijiworld readers could well recall October 3, 2006 when the dream of Mangalorean diaspora spread across the globe was realized. Yes, it was on this day that the first-ever international flight landed on Bajpe tarmac after years of struggle.
The city is filled similar feelings and Mangaloreans are waiting eagerly on the eve of resumption of train to Bangalore. After sustained struggle for more than a decade that the railways has finally decided to chug-off train to capital from the harbour city. Lack of political will, hesitation of the politicians, sustained lobby of private bus operators and lethargic attitude of the administration in particular and system at large had prevented the people from having a comfortable to-and-fro journey to capital by a train for years. Finally everything seemed to be put on right 'track' and as announced earlier the train to Bangalore will be flagged-off at the city station on Saturday December 8.
The city railway station which is celebrating its centenary jubilee is all set for the mega function. Union railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is expected to flag-off the 'dream train' on Saturday. Final preparations are going on in full swing. A tight security has been deployed at the station. Sniffer dog squads, bomb squads etc have already rounded up the station. Since a high profile union minister is arriving in the city, security has been beefed up.
Western Range IGP AM Prasad, SP Satheesh Kumar and other top officials visited the railway station on Friday December 7 evening to take a stock of on-going preparations. Live TV news channels too are busy setting up their base. This is indeed a great and memorable day to crores of people who have been demanding for the train for more than a decade.
Though there are certain loopholes as reported in these columns, the very joy of having a train to capital has covered these shortcomings. Right now no one is bothered that train will take about 12 hours to reach its destination, that it will take a round trip via Mandya and Mysore etc. But everyone is just concerned and is waiting for the Mangalore-Yashwantpur 6518 to chug-off.
Train follow-up: