The festival rush during Dasara, combined with the mid-term holidays for educational institutions, does not seem to augur well for train travellers. The South Western Railway (SWR) plans to operate only three special trains during September/October within Karnataka.
This is despite the recent statement of Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha that nearly 4,000 special trains would be operated across the country during Dasara/Deepavali.
However, private bus operators have been quick to cash in on the opportunity and have jacked up fares during the festival and a long weekend that follows. Minimum fares range from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 during the Vijayadashami-Gandhi Jayanti extended-weekend, between Bengaluru and many important cities in Karnataka.
Rohith Jain, General Secretary of SWR Passengers’ Committee, Davangere, said special trains were needed from Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Karwar and Raichur to Mysuru via Bengaluru during the holidays.
S. Yogendra from Mysuru Grahakara Parishat said that while many travel within the State during long weekends, no special trains are operated even though KSRTC operates plenty of specials. In contrast, Mr. Yogendra said, SWR has been operating a weekend Tatkal fare special between Yeshwantpur and Visakhapatnam Junction since October 2016.
He wondered why SWR does not extend similar facilities in Karnataka and added that the standard reply is “shortage of coaches/rakes” when it comes to running special trains in Karnataka. Though SWR operates Yeshwantpur-Phandarapur-Yeshwantpur Weekly Tatkal Special connecting Hubballi and Belagavi, it is not of much use as the train leaves Yeshwantpur on Thursdays and Pandarapur on Fridays.
The SWR spokesperson said the total number of special trains within Karnataka (8) amounted to 57% of all special trains operated by SWR (14). However, five of the eight counted as “special” trains in Karnataka have long been in operation like regular trains and is not run as a special for the festival holidays, countered Mr. Yogendra.
