Railways proposes to extend Kannur Express to Kozhikode
The Hindu
Patrons upset with the proposed extension of the lone overnight express connecting Mangaluru with State capital
Southern Railway has asked the Railway Board to extend Train Nos 16511/16512 Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Kannur overnight express to Kozhikode after South Western Railway agreed to the proposal at the recently held Indian Railway Timetable Committee (IRTTC) meeting.
The extension of the lone overnight express between Mangaluru and the State capital that was already running till Kannur in Kerala, was opposed by patrons in coastal Karnataka.
Pashchima Karavali Rail Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti president G. Hanumanth Kamath told The Hindu the extension would reduce the berth availability to travellers from coastal Karnataka.
Its initial extension soon after gauge conversion between Hassan and Mangaluru to Kannur itself was an injustice done to coastal Karnataka.
Then Minister of State for Railways E. Ahmed however had the final say, Mr. Kamath regretted. He said the samiti, along with MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, would urge the Railways not to extend the service to Kozhkode.
If the Railways intends to make optimum utilisation of the rake that remains idle in Mangaluru during day time, the same may be operated as a different train between Mangaluru Central and Kozhikode without affecting the berth availability to Mangaluru passengers, he said.
Kukke Shree Subrahmanya-Mangalore Rail Commuters Forum convener Sudarshan Puttur said it was unfortunate trains connecting Karnataka district headquarters with the State capital were being extended to other zones inconveniencing Karnataka people.