Viability factor reason for delay in M'lore-B'lore day train?

Railway Board and CRS have given different explanations.

The Rail Yatri Sangha, which is spearheading the movement for the day-train, suspects that the reason behind the delay in introducing the train might be viability factor. The Railway Board and the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) have given different explanations for the delay in introducing the day train.

In response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Railway Board said on April 1 this year that the train number 6515/6516 Yeshwanthpur-
Mangalore Express via Arasikere was not introduced because of operational restrictions imposed by the CRS.

Commissioner for Railway Safety K J S Naidu had, in response to an RTI application by Anil Hegde of the Puttur-based Rail Yatri Sangha on November 7, 2008, said: “As the Commission does not impose any condition or give suggestions, Railways have to follow the norms already laid down.”

In short, while South Western Railway (SWR) cites the “restrictions” put in place by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for not introducing a day train between Yeshwanthpur and Mangalore via Arsikere, the CRS has said he had not imposed any such condition.

Contradiction

A delegation led by FKCCI’s Tourism and Infrastructure Committee Co-Chairperson Prakash Mandoth, comprising Udupi Rail Yatri Sangha President R L Dias, Byndoor Rail Yatri Sangha President Venkatesh Kini, and Puttur Rail Yatri Sangha Technical Adviser Anil Hegde recently met CRS K J S Naidu to verify the claim of SWR.

He told the delegation that he had nothing to do with the introduction of one more passenger train on the section and it was left to the SWR. He also said that the Hassan-Mangalore line was an open line and CRS permission was not required to run another passenger train.

It may be also recalled here that, the bandh called by Railway Prayanikara Hitharakshana Vedike, demanding a pair of day trains between Bangalore-Hassan-Mangalore, was total in Sakleshpur on Saturday. The protesters stopped the Arsikere-Sakleshpur-Arsikere passenger train for more than two hours.

The in-charge Divisional Railway Manager, Nataraj, informed the agitators that he had been specially sent by the Railways with the message that a proposal had been sent to run a day train between Bangalore and Mangalore via Arsikere and Hassan and that it would be announced in the Railway Budget.

However, the delegates of Railway Passenger Association Forum of Coastal Karnataka will meet GM of South West Railways to urge him to introduce this train on the route at the earliest, informed a press release.