Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jun 11: Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel has warned the railways department, that if it continues to deny the coastal people their legitimate and rightful facilities by refusing to run a day-train to Bangalore from Mangalore, he along with Udupi MP D V Sadanand Gowda will lead a popular movement against the department to force it to accept the demand. He was speaking to reporters here on Wednesday June 10.
He said, the railway officials appear to be neglecting the state, as the party in power at the state is different from the one ruling the centre. "If the railways try to misuse the political scenario by raising unacceptable technical objections, we will be left with no other option but to fight for out rights," he clarified. He also felt, that the railways officials have not been heeding to the pleas of the people, here, as the members of parliament chosen by them do not belong to the ruling party at the centre.
He reiterated that he and Sadanand Gowda remain committed to the promises made by them during the electioneering to start railway services between the state capital and the district headquarters during the day. "We will put an end to the anti-people policies of the railways by launching strong protests,” he added.
BJP leaders Nanya Achut Mooditaya, Sanjeev Matandoor and Chanila Timmappa Shetty were present at the press conference.
No Objections, says CRS: Commissioner for Railway Safety(CRS) (southern region) K J S Naidu in the meanwhile, clarified at Bangalore that the railway line between Mangalore and Bangalore has been declared as an open line and therefore, the Commission does not have any objection to running of trains on this route. “As the Commission has issued clearance for this line, there is no need to approach us for any further clearance, and the railways department is the sole authority to decide on the issue of running trains on this route,” he informed a delegation of office bearers belonging to different organizations that met him at the CRS office on Wednesday June 10.
In the meanwhile, Railway Commuters Association technical consultant Anil Hegde said that the CRS also clarified that there are no technical hitches in running the train between Subrahmanya and Sakleshpur stretch, which is located in the ghat section and the steep gradient of which is one of the reasons being sighted by the railways for not launching the train.
The delegation comprised of Udupi Railway Commuters Association office bearers R L Dias and John Rebello, Byndoor Railway Commuters Association's Venkatesh Kini, Bangalore FKCCI member Prakash Mandoot and others. Railway chief administrative officer Vijayu Kumar, chief engineer Vyas and other railway officials were also present.