Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has demanded more trains between Mangalore and Bangalore via Hassan.
He also sought a separate Railway Division for Mangalore in a memorandum submitted to Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda ahead of the rail budget.
Mr. Kateel pointed out that an agreement signed with Hassan-Mangalore Railway Development Company Ltd (HMRDC), was an impediment in the introduction of new passenger trains on the route.
The company, looking to regain its investments, allowed only goods trains on the line and considered that the passenger train services would hamper the movement of the goods rakes. Being a service provider, it should introduce more passenger trains, he said.
Mr. Kateel cited the example of operating many trains between Bangalore and Hubli via Arasikere.
Though there was no direct link (that passes through Chitradurga, the regular bus route), he demanded two more trains should be introduced from Bangalore to Mangalore via Arasikere or Hassan.
“One direct train at night between Mangalore to Bangalore is not enough,” he said.
He also said if the travel time, currently between 11 and 12 hours, was reduced, it would benefit people.
This could be possible by expediting the Shravanabelagola-Nelamangala new line work.
‘More trains’
Mr. Kateel also demanded more trains from Hubli, Gulbarga to Mangalore via Hassan and Arasikere “which is possible with the current railway track.”
The other demands he made were: permanent halt of all Kerala-bound trains at major stations like Surathkal, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Bhatkal, Kumta and Karwar, improvement of passenger amenities at these stations, doubling the track of the Mangalore Central-Ullal stretch, super-fast trains to Mumbai and New Delhi, making Mangalore Central a world class station, reduction in travel time and increase in the frequency of Bangalore-Karwar train, wider approach road to Mangalore Junction station, replacing Malayalam sign boards with Kannada boards.
Separate division
On the separate division for Mangalore, he said it should be brought under South Western Railway Zone headquartered in Hubli. “Mangalore is the second biggest city of Karnataka and a commercial and industrial centre…(and) an important tourist place and attracts pilgrims.”
Mangalore Zone generated revenue from goods transportation to and fro Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli and other parts of Karnataka, he said adding Mangalore railway stations had received step-motherly treatment under Palakkad Division.
