Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 22: President of Byndoor-based Mookambika Railway Yatri Sangha, K Venkatesh Kini, who also happens to be a member of National Railway Users Consultative Committee, has requested general manager of south-western railway to take steps to bring down the journey time between Bengaluru and Mangaluru Junction stations, duly noting that there has not been appreciable change in the train's journey period even when the train travels through Hassan - Shravanabelagola route. At the same time, he acknowledged that the decision of the railways to run Bengaluru - Karwar/Kannur train via Shravanabelagola route on four days in a week has been a convenient move that has benefitted railway commuters.

"It was expected that with the change in route, travel time of Gomateshwara Express train between Yeshwantpur and Mangaluru Junction will come down to less than ten hours. But as per the current time table, the journey time has changed to ten and half hours instead of 9 hr 45 min. The train takes three and half hours to cover the distance between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road stations instead of earlier two and half hours as it has to cross another train coming from Mangaluru on the Ghat section. He pointed out that this train is made to wait for long at Donigal station to make way for the oncoming train. He has suggested to change the time of departure from Bengaluru to 7.30 pm instead of 7.15 so that it reaches Donigal station before the opposite train comes there, and reach Mangaluru faster.

He also said that the one hour journey time given for the train to cover 20 km between Bantwal and Mangaluru Junction stations is too much as other trains cover this distance in 30 minutes. He therefore has requested to prune down train travel time for this section to 30 minutes.

"As per the original time table, the compartments meant for Karwar used to leave the station before those belonging to Kannur section. As this procedure is changed, compartments meant for Karwar are made to wait for long at Mangaluru Central station. To obviate this problem, the earlier system should be adopted. He also said that it is possible to reduce travel time between Mangaluru and Yeshwantpur through proper planning.