Wait-list of passengers offers proof of popularity of Bengaluru-Karwar Panchaganga Express

The rush of passengers has triggered a demand for one more overnight service from the coast to Bengaluru

The Bengaluru-Karwar-Bengaluru Panchaganga Express (Train 16595/16596) has become so popular that both the services run with a wait-list of passengers every day.

Running with 14 coaches because of operational reasons, the train has three general second class, seven second sleeper class, one 2-tier AC and one 3-tier AC, one combined 2-tier AC and 1st AC, and one generator car coach accommodating roughly 1,000 passengers.

The service began two years ago on March 8, 2020. The train was cancelled for nearly six months due to the COVID-19 lockdown, that too within a fortnight of its inaugural run.

Konkan Railway Corporation’s Regional Railway Manager at Karwar B.B. Nikam said the Karwar-Bengaluru service reaches its full capacity before leaving Udupi. Even all the berths (10) in the combined 1st AC/2-tier AC coach are in the wait-list.

While the earlier Bengaluru-Karwar/Kannur overnight express used to take about 18 hours for the journey between Bengaluru and Karwar, the Panchaganga Express covers the distance in 14 hours. The service skips both Mangaluru Junction and Mangaluru Central stations and traverses via Padil bypass thereby saving more than one hour of journey time.

The fares are attractive for passengers with ₹255 for general second class, ₹435 (second sleeper), ₹1,150 (3-AC), ₹1,620 (2-AC) and ₹2,720 (1st-AC), as against bus fares that start from ₹600 and go up to ₹1,200.

One more train required