As Panchaganga Express celebrates 5th anniversary, patrons demand clone train to meet increase in demand

Panchaganga Express was flagged off by the then Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa and then Minister of State for Railways late Suresh C. Angadi on March 7, 2020 at Yesvantpur railway junction.

With the KSR Bengaluru-Karwar-KSR Bengaluru Panchaganga Express (Train No. 16595/596) completing five years of operations on March 7, patrons have urged Indian Railways to operate a clone train to meet the increase in demand for seats. They suggest that the close train have a later departure at both ends.

Panchaganga Express was flagged off by the then Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa and then Minister of State for Railways late Suresh C. Angadi on March 7, 2020 at Yesvantpur railway junction (Yeshwantpur) in Bengaluru.

“The train changed the train travel experience for people of coastal Karnataka and is always packed with a long wait-list for tickets,” said Gautam Shetty, member of Kundapura Railway Samithi. “With the increase in demand for travel options, we want the Railway Ministry to operate a clone train on the same route, via Padil bypass, behind the Panchaganga. To start with, the Ministry could consider a weekend service,” Mr. Shetty suggested.

Elaborating on the struggle of the people of coastal Karnataka to get a speedy connectivity to the State capital, Kundapura Samithi President Ganesh Puthran said, “The demand for merger of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with the Indian Railways originated when KRCL refused to facilitate introduction of a train via Padil bypass. When it became inevitable for KRCL to introduce such a service following a direction from Mr. Angadi, the corporation unceremoniously cancelled the existing Bengaluru-Karwar service that was operating as a combined service with Bengaluru-Kannur service, four days a week via Mysuru and three days via Arsikere. The coast thus lost connectivity with the Mysuru region.”

Uttara Kannada Railway Samithi Secretary Rajeev Gaonkar, who had successfully petitioned the High Court of Karnataka to get the South Western Railway to extend the Bengaluru-Kannur service to Karwar, said the Panchaganga has now become the lifeline of the coast. “It was a tough battle to make it happen, but today, when we see thousands benefiting every day, it gives immense satisfaction.” Mr. Gaonkar said the Railways could further reduce the travel time by two hours if it makes up its mind.

Mr. Puthran said the Bengaluru-Karwar service initially operated via Mangaluru Central with the total travel time being around 17 hours. The service was mostly used by retired persons or people who had enough time. When working class persons and software professionals sought a speedier service, patrons demanded a service bypassing Mangaluru Central.

The then Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, former Uttara Kannada MP Anantkumar Hegde, then Minister and now MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, former MP K. Jayaprakash Hegde and others convinced Mr. Angadi about the genuine requirements of the coastal people and got the Panchaganga Express, he said.