Night train plea disposed of

The High Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition seeking extension of the Bangalore to Mangalore train service till Karwar via Konkan railway track based on the Karnataka government’s submission.

Shankar S Bhat and others had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) contending that there was no direct night train service from Bangalore to Udupi, Kundapur, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Gokarna and  Karwar.

Apathetic

The petitioners felt that both the Union and the State governments were not giving priority to the extension and maintenance of railway network in the coastal districts of Karnataka.
The State government, however, had submitted that the Railways had already commissioned overnight service from Bangalore to Karwar via Mangalore where the train bifurcated. While one moved northwards to Karwar, the other proceeded southwards to Kannur. The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen disposed of the petition.