Low Turnout on Mluru Madgaon Vande Bharat Express- Commuters Urge Service Extend to Mumbai
Mangaluru: When Mangaluru Madgaon Intercity Express was in service, the passenger turnout was very low, due to the timing which was 8.15 am, and that timing of travelling and reaching the destination was not so effective for commuters who were on business trips etc- and now the similar case has been encountered by the Mangaluru Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, where since its launch a month ago is not attracting more travellers/passengers.
In contrast, the Mumbai CSMT- Madgaon-Mumbai CSMT Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22230/22229) had 93% occupancy on the onward journey and 99% occupancy in the return leg, with the train making 128 round trips since its introduction. commuters say that by Extending Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express to Mumbai Passenger associations had been claiming that the Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express would not be successful unless it is extended to Mumbai. They have urged Indian Railways to extend the service to Mumbai CSMT by amalgamating the Mumbai CSMT- Madgaon VB Express with Mangaluru Central-Madgaon VB Express and increasing the number of cars (coaches) from eight to 16.
As per Gautam Shetty from Kundapura Rail Prayanikara Hitarakshana Samithi a VB Express should connect either the State capital or a commercial centre to become successful. As the Mangaluru-Madgaon VB does not do either, its occupancy is less, except on weekends. He suggests extending the service to Mumbai. Mangalore-based Pashchima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samithi president G. Hanumanth Kamath wrote to the Railway Ministry saying the extension would provide a day-time train between Mangaluru and Mumbai, which is a long-standing demand of the coastal people.
At present, passengers travelling from Mumbai by Train No. 22229 reach Madgaon at 1.10 p.m. They have to wait till 6.10 p.m. to board the Madgaon-Mangaluru VB Express, he pointed out to support his demand for amalgamation of the two trains and also increasing the number of coaches from 8 to 16. A frequent traveller from Udupi said that people are used to sitting for up to 18 hours in tourist buses while travelling to Mumbai. The Vande Bharat Express trains will offer a better alternative in terms of travel time (13 hours), better toilets and pantry facilities.
The Railways could extend the Mumbai-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express to Mangaluru on a trial basis for six months to check the response before deciding on making the service permanent, he suggested.