Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 8: Coastal districts of Karnataka always have a close connection with Mumbai as thousands of families from here either have their businesses or workplaces in Mumbai. Matsyagandha train was very convenient to travel to Mumbai. However, the train, which was stopped in March this year because of Covid, has not been started again even though some other trains on other routes have resumed in the form of special trains.

This train was taken off from its routine run on Marchi 22. It has been about nine months since the train stopped chugging back and forth to Mumbai. The absence of this train is felt by the people here as they rely on this train to go to Goa or Mumbai. The train used to leave the city at 2.40 pm except during the monsoon season and reach Mumbai at 6.40 am the next day. The train from Mumbai used to leave at 3.30 pm and reach here at about 7.30 am.

Now flights and buses between Mangaluru and Mumbai have resumed service. The railway department has to take steps to begin this train service. At present, only Netravati Express train which runs between Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai via Mangaluru Junction is available for the people here to travel to Mumbai. If Matsyagandha is started early, people going to Goa, Ankola, Kumta etc also will stand to benefit.

Technical adviser to Paschima Karavali Railway Yatrikara Abjivrudhi Sangha, Anil Hegde, also is of the opinion that this train has to be resumed at the earliest. He said that railway users have already urged the southern railway to press this train into service at the earliest.