Bengaluru-Mangaluru overnight express gets extended for the second time, from Kannur to Kozhikode
The Hindu
The Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Central overnight express that was introduced after much fighting is now getting extended for the second time in Kerala, now from Kannur to Kozhikode.
The Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Central overnight express that was introduced after much fighting is now getting extended for the second time in Kerala, now from Kannur to Kozhikode.
It was first extended from Mangaluru to Kannur in 2009, just two years after the initial introduction much to the chagrin of the people from the Karnataka coast. Then Minister of State for Railways the late E. Ahmed got the service extended despite K.H. Muniyappa from Karnataka being another Minister of State for Railways.
The Railway Ministry in its January 23 order said it has approved Southern Railway’s proposal to extend Train No. 16511/512 Bengaluru-Kannur-Bengaluru overnight express to Kozhikode.
Operating under the existing timetable, Train No. 16511 will reach Kozhikode at 12.40 p.m. with halts at Thalassery, Vadakara, and Quilandi. Train No. 16512 leaves Kozhikode at 3.30 p.m. The extension should happen at the earliest convenient date, the Ministry said.
The order was issued despite a reported promise by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel last September that the train would not be extended to Kozhikode.
Mangaluru-based Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti too had opposed the extension on the ground that it would affect the seat availability to passengers from the Karnataka coast.
Rail fans from across Karnataka got agitated hearing the news and said Kozhikode is already connected to Bengaluru through Train No. 16526/527 Yeshwantpur-Kannur-Yeshwantpur daily and Train No. 16566/567 Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Central-Yeshwantpur weekly express via Shoranur and Palakkad.