Mangaluru: As against its earlier announcement of running the Kudla express from Mangaluru Central to Bengaluru, the train is now slated to be run from Mangaluru Junction depriving the people of coastal district of its benefits.

According to the sources it is said that the officers of Southern Railway refused to allow the train to run from Mangaluru Central to Yashwanthpur citing problem of lack of platforms and stabling yard(overnight parking facility) till works on new platform are completed. However they have now allowed it from Mangaluru junction. Then union minister for railways D.V. Sadananda Gowda had announced that Train No. 16575/576 daily express was to run between Bengaluru and Mangaluru Central.

The Mangaluru-Yeshwantpur Kudla tri-weekly Express from Mangaluru Junction is expected to be flagged of by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday through a video conference from Madgaon. He is also expected to inaugurate the electrification work between Mangaluru and Chervathur of Southern Railway as well as a railway siding at Thokur Station of Konkan Railway, sources said.

Residents of coastal district feel that Kudla Express operation from Mangaluru Junction to Yashwanthpur is of no use. Unlike the Mangaluru Central Railway Station which is easily accessible via public transport facilities and provides good connectivity to the commuters, the Mangaluru Junction is located too far away from the city and there is no good transport facility also.