Union Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa has reportedly assured that the Mumbai-Karwar train will be extended to Mangalore before August 15. In a release issued to The Hindu , the Paschima Karavali Railway Abhivriddhi Sangha said that its members were given the assurance by Mr. Muniyappa during a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.
The release said that a delegation from the sangha, led by its president, Hanumantha Kamath, met Mr. Muniyappa with a list of demands regarding the development of train services in coastal Karnataka. While promising that the other demands too would be given favourable consideration, Mr. Muniyappa is said to have assured them that the Mumbai-Karwar train would be extended as a first step. Mr. Muniyappa is also said to have assured the delegation that four extra bogies would be added to the Matsyagandha Express (Mangalore-Mumbai), which presently has 20 bogies.
Prime among the demands include the creation of a separate railway division with Mangalore as its headquarters and the diversion of the Bangalore-Kannur train (via Mangalore) to Karwar. The sangha also demanded that the Mookambika and Gokarna railway stations be given the ‘Heritage Railway Station' tag.
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