'B'lore-Karwar train a mirage'

According to an information sought by Railway Yahthri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde under RTI Act, pertaining to IRTTC (Inter zone Railway Time Table Conference) proposal 2011 with South Western Railway DGM, the copy of which is available with Deccan Herald, states that there is no proposal of introduction of train service from Bangalore or (other stations attached to Bangalore station) Karwar or (any other station attached to Konkan railways) in IRTTC 2011.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Anil Hegde said normally in the month of January, the Chief Transport Managers of all the railway zones come together at Inter zone Railway Time Table Conference and discuss on the new proposals especially with regard to the feasibility for the introduction of new trains and the available resources for the introduction of new trains. In 2011, the meeting was held at Pune.

The IRTTC proposal did not include anything related to the introduction of new train between Bangalore and Karwar.

Normally, only after the proposals are discussed in the IRTTC, it will be announced in the railway budget, Anil Hegde added.

To another query, the report said the Southern Railways does not have any proposal to extend the train number 16515/16516 Yeshwanthpura-Mangalore-Yeshwanthpura Express to Kerala side or to Vasco. Few vested interests in coastal districts were stating that Yeshwanthpura-Cannanore-Yeshwanthpura  train (on Salem, Shornoor route) will be extended to Mangalore for extending Mangalore-Yashwanthpur night train to Karwar, for the benefit of the people of the region.
However, the IRTTC meeting did not discuss anything on the extension of train to Mangalore.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry and businessmen of the region had been demanding railway connectivity to Hubli from Mangalore for the last several years. However, South Western Railway does not have any proposal of introducing new train service between Hubli-Mangalore or any other stations attached to Southern Railway due to path, line capacity, pit line maintenance, resources, Ghat section constraints, said South Western Railways Chief Traffic Planning Manager J N Raju in his reply to the information sought under RTI Act.

‘Catch siding at Yedakumeri’

The report sought under RTI Act said that the Railways have sanctioned the construction of catch siding at Yedakumeri station. However, the work is yet to be commenced. Lack of catch siding facility in most of the stations in the ghat region was the reason why the day train between Mangalore-Bangalore could not be run daily. “The Commissioner of Railway Safety had imposed restrictions for running passenger trains in the ghat section, which has 1-50 gradient. Out of four stations, only two, namely Donigal and Shiravagilu have catch sidings. With the construction of catch siding at Yedakumeri, additional traffic can be introduced,” said Anil.