Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Feb 8: “Passenger trains must run between Kundapur, Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts to improve the rapport and communication between people. The timings of the trains should be as per the convenience of people. The train between Madgaon and Mangaluru runs late. Elected representatives should solve this and other problems of passengers to make train journey comfortable,” opined those present at the Train Passengers Welfare Committee meeting.

“As the railway station is away from the city, a bus facility was urged till the railway station. As MLA Gopala Poojary is KSRTC president, we are confident of the approval. We have requested to ply Hemmadi-Talluru-Gangolli-Kundapur KSRTC bus till the railway station,” said committee's Vivek Nayak.

“Passenger train is beneficial to people, who will make the maximum use of the train. Madgaon – Mangaluru passenger train stops for hours together to allow other trains to move across. The department should look into the matter and make the timing people friendly,” he Vivek.

Work on Karwar – Bengaluru tracks to go via Sharavanabelagola-Kunigal is in progress. People will be able to reach Bengaluru within short time if the work gets completed. However as Kerala lobby is at work, there may be hurdles. Therefore it is necessary to introduce new train, opined some in the meeting.

“As passenger train is only for service, the railway department should make up its mind to provide excellent service. Unscientific projects and non observance of timings cause problems,” said Achutha Nayak who travels by train for the last twenty years.

“There are several places of worship in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada. As several devotees come, the trains are important. There are more modern hospitals in Mangaluru and Udupi than in Goa and Kerala. People from Karwar come to Mangaluru, Kundapur for business. Youth from Uttara Kannada are employed in Kundapur, Udupi and Mangaluru. Therefore convenient passenger trains should be introduced,” he said.

Committee president Kenchanooru Somashekar Shetty said that people representatives should be urged to introduce buses to Kundapur railway station, Railway station and passenger trains between Mangaluru and Madgaon.

Members and office bearers were present. Several discussions were held on the subject.