New passenger train may start services by July end

Despite several long-pending demands of the people of the district remaining unfulfilled, the introduction of a new passenger train to the district headquarters from Mysore is a respite.

The train, announced in the last Railway budget, is expected to start chugging by July end.

The residents of Chamarajanagar and surrounding areas have been demanding extension of Shimoga-Mysore and Dharwad-Mysore trains up to Chamarajanagar — for a long time.

The demand for laying of a railway line from Chamarajanagar to Mettupalyam is the oldest of all the demands. Apart from that there has been a demand for doubling of the Chamarajanagar-Mysore track. However, the district has not got any sops in any of the railway budgets so far. The mention of the new train this time has come as a big relief.

Several persons commute to Mysore from Chamarajanagar and surrounding areas for work and education. Most of them belong to the economically backward classes. Over 3,800 persons have availed Izzat railway pass under the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency. The commuters had been pressing for new trains and additional coaches for existing trains.

The commuters have also been complaining that due to shortage of staff in the railway station they were facing hardships. Due to shortage of staff, only one ticket counter operates, whereas the queue is usually long. So, tickets are being issued till the last minute before the train departs.

Passengers have a hard time catching the train. It is even more difficult if the train is on the second platform. Even MP Dhruvanarayan has written a letter to the south-western railway, urging it to post adequate staff at the railway station.

The MP has got a reply that necessary staff would be posted before the new train starts operating.