‘Officials’ decision to extend M’lore- B’lore train to Karwar goes in vain’
Though the technical committee of the railways have okayed the extension of Yashwanthpura-Mangalore train to Karwar, in reality, the train has been extended to Kannur.
According to an information sought by Dinesh K Bhat under RTI Act, the copy of which is available with Deccan Herald, Konkan Railways, Southern Railways and South Western Railways officials (Chief Passenger Transportation Managers) in an inter-railways time table conference held on January 27 have prepared time table for the extension of Mangalore-Yashwanthpura train (train number 6517/6518) to Karwar. In fact, they had said “the extension of Yashwanthpura-Mangalore Express to and from Karwar will open up the coastal town of Karwar to many parts of South interior Karnataka where tourists are expected to arrive. Further, as these lines are connecting Konkan Railway line, an alternative route to Mumbai/Madgaon for the people in the Hassan and South Canara districts.
The proposal was to utilise the ‘lie over’ period of train number 6517/6518 at Mangalore. People from Gokarna, Udupi, Kundapur, Bhatkal, Kumta can go to Hassan, Mysore and Bangalore directly. This can be run without any additional rake/loco.”
As per the time table, train will start fromYahwanthpura at 8.30 pm, Mysore at 11.55 pm and Mangalore at 9.05. If the train leaves Mangalore at 9.30 am, it will reach Karwar at 2 pm. From Karwar, train can leave by 3.15 pm, Mangalore 7.25 pm, Mysore 4.15 pm and Yashwanthpura at 7.40 am.
Delegation to New Delhi
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Railway Yathri Sangha, Puttur Technical Advisor Anil Hegde said a delegation of Pashchima Karavali Railway Yathri Abhivridhi Sangha will leave for New Delhi on November 27 to meet Union Minister for Railways Mamatha Banerjee. The delegation will urge the Minister to take a decision to extend the train to Karwar. In case, if the extension of train to Kannur can not be revoked, then the delegation will urge the Minister to send 9 bogies to Kannur and another 9 to Karwar or to run the train for four days to Karwar and three days to Kannur in a week. If the Minister fails to extend the train to Karwar, then we will file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
