Tri-weekly train to Mumbai needed: yathrikara samiti

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 18, 2015: Various rail passengers associations have urged the Ministry of Railways to extend the poorly patronised Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Intercity Express to Mumbai (Dadar) as a tri-weekly train. The extension would be right for both,  the Railways and passengers.   Thousands of passengers would benefit by direct train to Mumbai, the Railways would not incur losses, the associations stress.

 

In a memorandum to Southern Railway and people’s representatives, Paschima Karavali Railu Yathrikara Abhivriddhi Samiti president G. Hanumanth Kamath said that there is much demand from the public for an express day train between Mangaluru and Mumbai. Long-distance trains plying via the coastal line are not useful as they run full.   It is  desirable to consider the extension of Mangaluru-Madgaon Intercity Express up to Dadar, as the train’s occupancy is very low. By providing additional stoppage for the train at taluk headquarters en route , both the Railways and the public would benefit. 

As there could be shortage of rakes to run a daily train (about 15 hours running time), the single rake of the intercity express could be used to run a tri-weekly train.  If passenger patronage is good, the Railways may convert the train to a daily train in due course of time.

Further, the extension would also enhance connectivity between Madgaon and Mumbai and reduce the congestion on the Madgaon-Dadar Janshatabdi Express.   It would also serve as a connecting train for North-bound trains from Mumbai.

The Kukke Shree Subrahmanya-Mangaluru Railway Commuters Forum, Puttur, too, made a similar demand in a letter to Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu. Samiti convener Sudarshan Puttur said that the extension of the intercity express to Mumbai would be a good option.