Oscar Fernandes flags off extended train to Karwar

Oscar Fernandes flags off extended train to Karwar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 18, 2012 : Rajya Sabha MP, Oscar Fernandes flagged off the Bangalore - Mangalore train, which has been extended to Karwar, at Mangalore Central Railway Station on Oct 18, Thursday. This train will be divided into two separate trains as soon as it arrives in Mangalore from Bangalore and one train will continue to Karwar while the other will continue to Kannur.

 

The Bangalore to Mangalore train, which will have 18 coaches when it chugs into Mangalore, will be split into 13 coaches for Karwar and 5 for Kannur. The Bangalore to Mangalore train originally had 24 coaches, but the number was reduced to 18 to make the train safer, especially in the Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Ghat section.

The dignitaries on the dais at the formal stage program were Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, Union Minister for Railways K. H. Muniyappa, MLA U. T. Khader, Mayor Gulzar Banu, Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Ramanath Rai, Udupi – Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hegde, Vinay Kumar Sorake, and Palakkad Division Railway Manager Piyush Agarwal.

Addressing the gathering, Muniyappa said that the Palakkad Division must submit a proposal to modernize the division, adding that an extra 1,500km has been added to the existing tracks in the state. Revealing facts and figures, he said that Karnataka now has 90 new trains, of which 28 were introduced between the years 2009 and 2012. Sixteen of these trains have already become functional and the others will start functioning soon, he added.

He further said that reservations can be made through mobile phones, help lines, and email early next year, adding that existing technology will be utilized to the fullest to provide the best service to commuters.

In his address, MP Oscar Fernandes voiced his opinion that as many trains as possible should be run on the existing tracks as it will prevent road accidents. He also suggested that Subrahmanya and Puttur must be transformed into major railway stations.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhanu P. Tayal, KRCL MD, said that Rs. 3 crore will be spent on providing better facilities such as drinking water and construction of subways and overbridges. Further, he said that passenger ticket reservation services will begin in Suratkal and Kundapur soon.

Promising that the bifurcated train will soon be converted into a full train as the demand for its high, he urged Mr. Muniyappa to solve the problems regarding washing trains at Karwar.

Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat announced that Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has earmarked Rs. 6 crore to upgrade Mangalore Central Railway Station.

MLA U. T. Khader, J. P. Hegede, and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel also spoke on this occasion.