From Sanjay Borkar in Margao for Daijiworld News Network- Goa

Margao, Feb 16: Union minister of state for railways R. Velu flagged off the Madgaon –Mangalore Janshatabdi express on Tuesday evening.

While delivering the speech he assured that passengers would not be taxed in the forthcoming Railway Budget.

This train via Konkan railway route would cut down the travelling time between Madgaon to Mangalore. Commuters would be happy, as every minute is important in this life, he said.

Meanwhile, the state's three parliament members, Churchill Alemao, Shripad Naik (Lok Sabha) and Rajya Sabha member Shantaram Naik, urged Velu for introducing more trains.

Shantaram Naik demanded Madgaon–Delhi express train via Baroda, Shripad Naik demanded additional train to Mumbai and Alemao demanded Madgaon–Tirupati-Tamil Nadu train as a large number of pilgrims go to tirupathi and Vailankanni.

"Step by step, all demands placed by the MPs will be fulfilled. For that, I will speak to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Railway is common man’s mode of transport, which helps the nation to unify the culture, heritage, economy and much more," Velu said.

He also promised to commission the railway underbridges and railway overbridges at many places of Konkan railway route, for which the state government would have to invest 50 % of the estimated cost.

Timings of train as follows:

T no.2071 Station T no. 2072

Dep     Station        Arrival

1355   Madgaon      1110
1443   Karwar         1021
1508   Ankola         0957
1614   Bhatkal        0900
1725   Udupi           0804
1845   Mangalore    0700 (Dep from Mangalore - third column to be referred to upwards)