Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 9: The Bangalore-Mangalore train, which was extended to Kannur against popular demand for its extension to Karwar, is suffering a loss of two lac rupees per day on the stretch between Mangalore and Kannur. The department seems to have a leaning towards suffering losses rather than bending to the wishes of the commuters, taking it as a prestige issue.

The demand of the railway passengers for diverting 10 of the 17 compartments which go to Kannur, to Karwar, allowing the other seven to reach Kannur, has not been considered favourably so far. The aggrieved commuters will be launching a Rail Roko agitation between 9 am and 12 pm on February 15 at the railway station, to express their anger. All trains moving through this station during this period will be stopped there.

It is gathered that only about 60 passengers travel on the extended stretch of Bangalore-Mangalore train between Mangalore and Kannur. The agitation will be inaugurated by Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt. MLAs, K Rathuipati Bhat and Lalaji R Mendon, will be participating. R L Dias, president of Udupi Railway Yatri Sangha, which is spearheading this protest, notes that the officials of the Railway Board and people’s representatives have been doing precious little to assuage the feelings of the railway commuters of the region. He said that the politicians including members of parliament from this region, who have been approached time and again in this connection, have been biding time by extending false promises.

The West Coast Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti Mangalore had filed a writ petition in the state High Court against the Railways. The department, instead of appearing for the hearings, has been trying to escape by negotiating with the concerned through a compromise formula. Dias feels that lack of political will on the part of people’s representatives has been the sole major reason behind the present situation.