Day train shortcomings a cause for concern

The commencement of day train (train number 6516/15) between Mangalore-Yeshwanthpur has fulfiled the long pending dreams of Mangaloreans. However, the train has some shortcomings which needs to be looked into by the authorities concerned to attract more passengers, as some of the bogies are running empty on several days.
Be it the prolonged journey, stoppages in many stations for nearly 15 minutes, absence of pantry car, entry of beggars, eunuchs and absence of pre paid auto stand at Yeshwanthpur station have been causing lot of inconvenience to commuters.

Railway Yathri Sangha (Puttur) Technical Advisor Anil Hegde said “if the journey duration is reduced, then the train will be beneficial to many. For example, the distance between Hassan and Arasikere is 45 kilometres. But, it takes nearly one and half hours to reach Arasikere. The train from Yeshwanthpura-Mangalore 6515 reaches Arasikere at 11 am and Hassan at 11.50 am.”

He says: “High speed trains run between Arasikere and Bangalore (Hubli -Bangalore (intercity) Express which takes only 2.30 hours to reach Bangalore from Arasikere. The day train reaches Hassan at 2.20 pm and Arasikere at 3.50 pm. Scheduled time to reach Subrahmanya for day train from Yeshwanthpura is 3.15 pm. But it reaches Mangalore at 5.50 pm.  The absence of pantry car is  another major problem for the passengers as they have to depend on the food vendors wherein quality of food is very poor, said a passenger who has travelled in the day train several times. Since its a long journey, it calls for the attachment of a pantry car, feels Hegde.

Once the train reaches Sakleshpur from Mangalore, the nuisance created by beggars, eunuchs can not be stopped. Passengers have to shell out some amount of money as these eunuchs come and demand money, says Siddarth, a frequent traveller.

“The absence of pre paid autos in Yeshwanthpur is another headache to the passengers of day train. As the train reaches the station at 7 pm, it is difficut for the passengers to find a bus station and reach Majestic to catch another bus to reach the destination. The absence of pre paid autos forces passengers to shell out more money if they opt to go in autorickshaws. If the train is extended to Bangalore City railway station, it will help the commuters as the city bus stand is adjacent to the railway station,” feels Hegde.

The trains stop at Kankanady, Bantwal, Puttur, Subrahmanya, Sakleshpura, Hassan, Arasikere, Tiptur, Tumkur and Yashwanthpura.

The distance between Mangalore-Bangalore via Arasikere-Hassan route is 403 kilometres. However, the journey takes 10 hours 15 minutes. The distance between Mangalore-Bangalore via Mysore is 509 kilometres and it takes 12 hours.