Title - Bifurcation of train: MP criticises Muniyappa

K. Sudhakaran, MP, has termed as irresponsible and unjust Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa’s statement that the Yeshwanthpur- Mangalore- Kannur Express (16517, 16518) to be bifurcated for its extension to Karwar in Karnataka will have only five coaches while the branched off train to be extended to Karwar will have 13 coaches.Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Sudhakaran said the Minister’s statement in Mangalore on October 15 that the train would be bifurcated at Mangalore Junction (Kankanadi) would cause a lot of inconvenience to passengers.“Mr. Muniyappa is a Minister in the Central government and not a Minister in Karnataka,” Mr. Sudhakaran said adding that the people of Kerala could not accept the decision announced by the Minister.He said he would meet the Railway Minister and take up the decision with the Prime Minister.Observing that the train was being bifurcated on technical advice of railway officials, the MP said Mr. Muniyappa’s statement ignored the fact that the purpose of every train was to ensure conveyance of passengers to their scheduled destinations.It would cause a lot of inconvenience to the Mangalore-bound passengers on the train to disembark at Mangalore Junction instead of Mangalore Central, he said adding that even the MP representing the Mangalore constituency was not in favour of the decision.

Construction of an additional platform at Mangalore Central could ensure the bifurcation of the train there, he pointed out.

Refuting the explanation that the decision to bifurcate the train followed the Karnataka High Court’s decision to extend the train to Karwar, Mr. Sudhakaran said the court had not ordered the extension of the train to Karwar.

The High Court had ordered the rail authorities to arrange connectivity to Karwar, he said adding that he would approach the Bangalore High Court to implead himself in the case.

Since the High Court’s order, a day train had been running between Bangalore and Karwar to execute the court’s order, he said.

Mr. Sudhakaran termed as immature the Minister’s argument that the number of coaches for the bifurcated train to Kannur was fixed on the basis of the number of passengers on the route.

He said the number of Kasaragod and Kannur-bound passengers on the train included around 250 reserved and 700 unreserved passengers. He said both the trains to Kannur and Karwar should have 12 coaches each.

Running a train with just five coaches was unheard of, he said adding that there was no safety issue involved as the Safety Commissioner had tested the running of the train with 24 coaches on the route till the other day.