Mangaluru: In a memorandum to the Southern Railway and people’s representatives, Paschima Karavali Railu Yathrikara Abhivriddhi Samiti president G. Hanumanth Kamath has demanded that the Ministry of Railways to extend the poorly patronised Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Intercity Express to Mumbai (Dadar) as a tri-weekly train initially. He said that there s 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 are always run full.
The extension would be a win-win situation both for the Railways and passengers it said. Other railway associations have supported the demand. While thousands of passengers would benefit by direct train to Mumbai, the Railways would not incur losses as it is doing so, the associations have said.
The memorandum added, “It is, therefore, 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, Mr. Kamath said. 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 the coming days, the samiti said.It further said that 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 towards North-bound trains from Mumbai, the samithi said.
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.
The Mookambika Railway Yatri Sangha, Baindoor, too has joined chorus demanding extending the services of 22636/65 Mangaluru-Madgaon intercity express train up to Dadar of Mumbai under Central railway.
Recently Konkan Railway had announced the cancellation of the train for 30-days to facilitate repair of pit line in platform number 3 of Mangaluru Central Railway Station. But, Sudarshan of Kukke Shree Subramanya-Mangalore Railway Commuters Forum argued when there are so many trains operating from Mangalore Central station, why have the authorities ordered cancellation of only train 22636/35? He claimed the reason was the passengers’ survey carried out which indicated the train is running half empty.
Sudarshan said the reason for the train being less patronized is due to four trains – Mangaluru-Madgaon train 56640/41, Verna passenger train 56665/66, Kasaragod-Byndore passenger train 16524, Yesvantpur-Karwar express and the intercity express – running in a half an hour to an hour’s gap from the city up to Madgaon.
K Venkatesh Kini, president of the sangha added reduced passenger traffic was due to unscientific stoppages given to the train by skipping important tourism destinations enroute. “We had warned the corporation several times,” he said and alleged that this was a precursor to permanently cancelling the train altogether. He recalled that in 2006 Mangaluru-Madgaon Janashatabdhi train was also cancelled giving the same reason.
While Puttur Association wrote to Suresh Prabhu, union railway minister, Mookambika sangha has written to all MPs in the region apart from Central Railway General Manager, Southern Railway GM and Konkan Railway.
