Extension of train service to Karwar would help students'

Mangalore, March 5: In the backdrop of few persons lobbying against the extension of Mangalore-Bangalore train to Karwar, Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivridhi Samiti has said that if the train is extended to Karwar, then railway connectivity will be provided from Karwar-Mangalore-Puttur-Subramanya.

Moreover, it will be convenient to the school and college students along with office-goers.

According to a press release from Samiti President Hanumantha Kamath, the train will connect Surathkal, Udupi, Kundapura, Bhatkal, Murdeshwara, Honnavara, Karwar and other important cities of coastal district. At the same time, it will also provide connectivity to Subramanya, Mysore, Bangalore to the people of the entire coastal district, the release said.

“If the night train is extended to Karwar, then the people of Puttur, Subramanya and Bantwal can visit Surathkal, Udupi, Kundapura and other places. Moreover, the people from the region can also visit Manipal for medical and business purpose in the morning and come back in the same train in the evening.”

“With the extension of Bangalore-Mangalore train to Kannur, the train is running empty, thus incurring loss to the railways. In fact, the railways had dropped the proposal on a train to Kannur few years ago, citing the reason that it is not profitable venture. However, later owing to the lobby from Kerala, the train was extended to Kannur. In fact, if the night train is extended to Karwar, then it will benefit the railways.”

He said the railways have brushed aside the indtroduction of addition train between Mangalore-Bangalore. In this background, even the proposal on the daily running of day train is a distant dream. Hence, the South Western Railways have to provide justice to Kerala and Karnataka by running few boogies to Kannur and few to Karwar.