Activists of Mangalore Friends Group Raise Voice Against Railway Ministry for Discrimination to Mluru
Activists of Mangalore Friends Group Raise Voice Against Railway Ministry for Discrimination to Mangaluru/Mangalureans in Train Services and Facilities at Railway Stations.
Mangaluru: Even though it was good news from The Railway Ministry for travelers between Bengaluru and Karwar, while the Ministry approved the proposed Yeshwantpur-Karwar (Vasco da Gama)-Yeshwantpur Express (16595/16596), but the bad news was that it cancelled the existing Bengaluru-Karwar overnight express (16513/14 and 16523/24). The new train was flagged off at Yeshwantpur couple,of days ago by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Minister of State for Railways Suresh C. Angadi and will run on open timings. Regular services between Yeshwantpur and Karwar started from Sunday.
The existing Karwar overnight express that was operated as a combined service with the Bengaluru-Kannur-Bengaluru Express (16511/12 and 16517/18) was cancelled with effect from Sunday night. Passengers who have already booked on the cancelled Karwar train were shifted to the new train. Services to Mangaluru will remain unaffected as Bengaluru-Kannur Express via Mangaluru Central (four days via Kunigal and three days via Mysuru) will run with a revised composition of 15 coaches.
The new train will run as Karwar-Vasco da Gama-Karwar special from Karwar to Vasco-the Train 16595 will leave Yeshwantpur at 6.45 p.m. to reach Karwar at 8.25 a.m. and leave Karwar as the special train at 8.30 a.m. to reach Vasco da Gama at 10.30 a.m. It will leave Vasco da Gama at 3.25 p.m. to reach Karwar at 5.45 p.m. It will depart Karwar at 6 p.m. to reach Yeshwantpur at 8 a.m. While the existing train used to take about 17 hours between Bengaluru and Karwar, the new train takes 13.45 hours.
En route, the train will halt at Chikkabanavara, Channarayapatna, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kaniyur, Kabakaputtur, Bantwal, Surathkal, Mulki, Udupi, Barkur, Kundapura, Byndoor, Bhatkal, Murdeshwar, Honnavar, Kumta, Gokarna Road, and Ankola. In all, there will be 14 LHB coaches. Paschima Karavali Rail Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti adviser Anil Hegde said there was a huge demand for train services even after the new service. The existing train provided connectivity between Mysuru, Mangaluru and Karwar too, and it cannot be cancelled without recommendations from the Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committees, he added. Yogendra Swamy from the Mysuru Grahaka Parishat said the cancellation of the Karwar train disconnects Mysuru’s connectivity with Karwar. Railways should continue the services, he said.
In the meantime, Activists of Mangalore Friends Group have raised their voices against the discrimination done to Mangaloreans by the railway ministry while launching the new train. In their message on whatsapp and email to electronic media, the Group had stated-“Kindly note the discrimination to the people of Mangaluru-while the new train (Yeshwanthpur-Karwar was launched, 2 to 3 existing trains of Mangaluru were cancelled. The new train does not touch Mangaluru junction and Mangaluru Central, either.
We don’t object to catering to the people of Udupi and Karwar, but why discriminate Mangaluru/Mangaloreans? Why does CM favour only Udupi, when Mangaluru citizens also pay taxes? Local Minister Nalin Kumar and other Local leaders do not think of Mangaluru citizens? Does Minister Suresh Angadi, think of only Belgaum / Belagavi (which has more than 20 trains and Hubbali more than 30 trains) and of late, still he gave a NEW express one. No one can believe, even if some Railway officer states – the issue of commercial viability on this route (eg.: the government buses from Bengaluru to Chennai are more than 60; and the trains are more than 24. The government buses (without counting private) to Mangaluru are more than 70..and the trains are (so far) ONLY THREE ! What about the people of MYSURU? No link for them to Mangaluru; and for Mangaloreans no direct train service to Mysuru ?
DISCRIMINATION IN TERMS OF TRAVEL TIME:
Discrimination even in terms of train speed and catering to the needs of the local people ! (see an example of complex ghat section:) Goa- Doodhsagar area 84 KM, the train takes only 1.40 min; Sakleshpur: 111 km the train takes over 3 hours
DISCRIMINATION IN TERMS OF TRAINS:
Even compared to others, to the people of the state – discriminated. Mangaluru to Ernakulam -we have more than 30 trains but to the state people to come to the state capital only 3 trains (so far!) hereafter only ONE train ?
DISCRIMINATION IN TERMS OF AMENITIES:
Mangaluru Railway Junction near Padil, is a quite a old station, with so many years of existence and more than 50 trains (including weekly) pass through…. but, basic amenities are not provided, like- no electronic display of train timings etc; local staff do not speak local language; some not even speak Kannada; Not enough fans, water, display boards, loud speakers; no compartment display; and for 2 – 5 minutes time all the passengers run to and fro to board the train !
– train stop on platform 3 announcement is done on platform one ! Such apathy! The local elected leaders, for not doing enough, must be ashamed of themselves. The local papers, if they have any regard for local citizens, then they must highlight such issues?
FINALLY..IF, SOME REMEDIAL MEASURES ARE NOT TAKEN UP , THEN WE WE WILL BE FORCED TO PROTEST ! AND WE WILL PROTEST !
