The Pashchima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivridhi Samiti, Mangaluru, has urged the Southern Railway to provide platform slot for the proposed Kudla Express at Mangaluru Central Railway Station.
Samiti president and member of Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee G. Hanumanth Kamath has written to the Divisional Railway Manager of Palakkad Division of Southern Railway in this regard.
He said it was reported in the media that platform slot and night halt facility were not available for the proposed Kudla Express (Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Central) at Mangaluru Central Railway Station. He also learnt that Southern Railway has suggested to run the train from Mangaluru Junction.
Mr. Kamath noted that the proposed train would run on the newly commissioned Hassan-Bengaluru line thereby drastically reducing the travel time between Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
If the train is operated from Mangaluru Junction, it would not serve the purpose for what it is being introduced. Mangaluru Junction is underdeveloped and reaching it from the city is a Herculean task, Mr. Kamath noted.
At the same time, if Kudla Express is operated from Mangaluru Central, the same would benefit people from North Malabar region of Kerala too as they can get connecting train service to and from Bengaluru.
The rake of the train could be provided night halting space at Mangaluru Junction and be brought to Mangaluru Central every morning for its departure, Mr. Kamath suggested. Such a system is in vogue in Bengaluru, Chennai and other major cities, he pointed out.
