The Hindu
- Opposition to Matsyagandha Express being extended to Thiruvananthapuram
- Mangalore, Udupi passengers put to hardship
- They seek immediate repair of National Highway 17
Udupi, Oct 12: K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said on Wednesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers would block the Matsyagandha Express in Udupi at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday and stage a “rail roko” against the extension of train services, which runs between Mumbai and Mangalore, to Thiruvananthapuram.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Bhat said the Matsyagandha Express was serving the people of three coastal districts who visited Mumbai. But recently the Indian Railways extended this train to Thiruvananthapuram, which had deprived seat reservation for passengers in Udupi and Mangalore.
Only train
This was the only train from Mangalore on the Konkan Railway route and it should be retained. The Indian Railways could start a separate train from Thiruvananthapuram on this route to cater to the demands of the people there, he said.
Step-motherly treatment
The Janashatabdhi Express, which was earlier running between Mumbai and Mangalore, was now running between Mumbai and Madgaon in Goa. It was no longer entering Karnataka. This train should be allowed to run between Mumbai and Mangalore as before, he said and added that all these instances showed that the Union Railways Ministry was meting out a step-motherly treatment to coastal districts of Karnataka, he charged.
Repair NH 17
Mr. Bhat said the maintenance of the National Highways came under the Union Government and not State Government as claimed by the former MLA and Congress leader U.R. Sabhapathi. He should use his influence with Union Minister of State for Labour Oscar Fernandes and chairman of the Central Administrative Reforms Commission M. Veerappa Moily to get funds released for the repair work of National Highway 17 in Udupi district.
Sahitya Sammelan
This was essential as the 74th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan would be held here from December 12 to 15 and the Paryaya Festival on January 18, 2008, he said.
BJP leaders B. Ravi Amin, B. Suprasad Shetty, Katapady Shankar Poojary, Suvardhan Nayak, G.P. Nayak, and others were present.
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