Residents of Shravanabelagola welcomed Solapur-Hassan Express train as it reached Shravanabelgola Railway Station around 10 a.m. on Thursday. The train, which was earlier called Solapur-Yesvanthpur Express has been extended up to Hassan, with effect from Thursday.
Charukeerthy Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain Mutt in Shravanabelagola, C.N. Balakrishna, MLA, and other people’s representatives welcomed the train. The daily train reaches Hassan at 11.25 a.m. and leaves for Yesvanthpur at 16.10 p.m.
Mr. Balakrishna, speaking on the occasion, said the new train would benefit people of Hassan. “Those reaching North Karnataka, particularly the Hyderabad-Karnataka region would be benefited by this train. This could happen because of the blessings of Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamy and efforts of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda,” he said. The train does not stop at Channarayapatna, the taluk headquarters.
Mr. Balakrishna said he would appeal to the authorities concerned for a stoppage at Channarayapatna.
At 4.10 p.m., the train began the first journey from Hassan to Solapur. Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna flagged off the train. Sweets were distributed at the railway station to mark the occasion.
Legislators H.K. Kumaraswamy, C.N. Balakrishna, Preetham Gowda, M.A. Gopalaswamy; Deputy Commissioner P.C. Jaffer, and G. Jagadish, ZP CEO, and others were present.
