South Western Railway (SWR) appears to be misleading the public with contradictory statements on diversion of the Bengaluru-Karwar/ Kannur overnight express via the newly opened Kunigal-Hassan route that drastically reduces travel time.
Presently, the train runs via Mysuru and takes 18 hours to traverse about 700 km to reach Karwar.
In anticipation of commissioning of the Bengaluru-Hassan new line, the SWR had commenced the process of diverting trains operating to Mangaluru via the new line in February itself.
It had written to its Bengaluru and Mangaluru divisions seeking opinion from members of Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committees (DRUCCs) on diverting the overnight express as well as the Yeshwantpur-Karwar tri-weekly day express which operated via Arsikere via Kunigal. The Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), represented, among others, by nominees from DRUCCs, also passed a resolution on April 18 approving diversion of both the trains on the new route.
The zone thereafter diverted Yeshwantpur-Karwar tri-weekly express via Kunigal after the new line was opened in March and introduced Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction tri-weekly day service on the new route.
When the zone failed to divert the overnight express on the new route, some rail activists petitioned SWR under RTI as to when the train would be diverted.
SWR replied that there was no proposal to divert the overnight express as the same was opposed by members of Bengaluru and Mysuru DRUCCs.
While it provided no material to substantiate Bengaluru DRUCC’s decision, SWR said one out of 37 members of Mysuru DRUCC wrote a letter opposing the move.
To another RTI query on the same issue, SWR replied that Bengaluru DRUCC did not pass any resolution on the proposal. At the same time, it also revealed that two members of Mysuru DRUCC had in fact welcomed the proposal.
Reacting, West Coast Rail Yatri Sangha adviser Anil Hegde said that the ZRUCC could not have approved the proposal without DRUCCs’ approval.
He alleged that the turnabout smacks of pressure from the influential bus lobby, which would severely be hit if the train is diverted.
SWR is yet to respond to queries by The Hindu in this regard.
