10 new trains sought for State's coastal region

Railway commuters' organisations from coastal districts have sought introduction of ten new trains for the region in the forthcoming railway budget.

Railway Yahthri Sangha (Puttur) and West Coast Rail Yathri Development Committee have sought Mangalore-Kannur-Salem-Bangalore -Hyderabad Express; Subrahmanya Road-Mangalore-Ahmedabad Express; Mangalore-Vishakapatnam Express; Mangalore-Udupi-Bhatkal diesel multiple unit (DMU) service; Mangalore-Madgaon-Vascodagama Passenger train service;  Subrahamanya Road -Hubli Express via Madgaon; Subrahmanya Road-Mangalore-Udupi-Panwel-Pune express; Mangalore-Mumbai Garib rath express; Mangalore-Chennai- Garib rath express; reintroduction of  Mangalore central -Miraj Maha
Lakshmi Express and extending it up to Karwar.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Technical Advisor Anil Hegde of Railway Yahthri Sangha (Puttur) said that train service between Mangalore-Hyderabad has already been discussed in inter time table conference held at Madgaon recently.

“For additional platforms at Mangalore Central, the Southern Railways have already sent a budget proposal to Railway Board seeking financial assistance of of Rs 17 crore,” he said.

“Mangalore-Ahmedabad special train service  which introduced last summer and was successful. The train will be beneficial if it is introduced from Subrahmanya Road. During metre gauge era Mangalore-Miraj Mahalaxmi express was running. But during gauge conversion period the service was stopped. After resumption of train service on this route, the train service was not introduced,” he said.

Railway commuters have also sought extension of train services. They are  
Yesvantpur-Kannur Express via Salem up to Mangalore central; Mangalore -CSTM Mumbai Express up to Subrahmanya Road; Vasco-Patna-Howrah  Express (via Madgaon, Londa)  up to Mangalore Central; Yesvantpur- Salem-Kannur Express up to Mangalore Central and Chervathur-Mangalore passenger train upto Bhatkal.

The railway commuters have said that Karwar-Yesvantpura Day express should be a daily train. The frequency of Mangalore-Jammu Tahavi weekly express and Mangalore-Howrah weekly express should be increased.

He said that the budget should allocate funds to upgrade Mangalore Central railway station and to take up track doubling work from Kankanady to Mangalore Central.
Funds should be earmarked for taking up the work on track doubling from Kankanady to Panambur.

The electrification work on Mysore-Hassan-Mangalore should be announced.
Funds should be earmarked for the laying of additional platforms at Mangalore Central railway station.