Mangaluru: A decision to rename Kudla Express as Gomateshwara Express has added to the initial disappointment of Tulunadu people who had eagerly awaited for the train to be flagged off from Mangaluru Central.

It may be recalled that the tri- weekly train that had been flagged off on April 9 was initially planned to run between Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Central but the officials later cited lack of platforms and stabling yard and decided to operate it from Mangaluru Junction.

Now to add fuel to their woes, it is learnt that Union minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu has agreed to rename the train as Gomateshwara Express as also the Hassan Intercity Express as Kalarabhairava Express on the suggestion of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda during the inauguration of the newly commissioned Bengaluru-Hassan line at Yeshwanthpur on March 26.

Former minister for Railways Sadananda Gowda who had originally announced the train during his tenure as railway minister had named it Kudla Express, as the city is referred to in Tulu. Moreover, people in the district used to call it as Kudla Express even before it was flagged of on April 9.

Peeved over the developments, Tulunada Rakshana Vedike president Yogish Shetty Jeppu said that That they were not against naming of a train as Gomateshwara Express but instead of renaming Kudla Express the railway authorities could have changed the name of any other train.

Further he also warned that the Vedike would hold agitations in front of Deve Gowda’s residence and elected representatives of district, if the train is not renamed as Kudla Express.