Title - Yatri Sangha hails HC judgment on bifurcation of train

MANGALORE: Udupi Railway Yatri Sangha has hailed the judgment of Karnataka High Court on bifurcating the augmented 24 coaches of train 16517 Yesvantpur-Mangalore-Kannur night train equally and sending 12 coaches to Kannur and rest to Karwar. Railway authorities not withstanding opposition from people of coastal Karnataka extended the night train to Kannur on December 14, 2009.

The Sangha asked South-Western Railway under the Right to Information Act, 2005 about the income and expenditure of this train from Mangalore Central to Kannur and back, a distance of 132-kms. The 17 bogie train arrives full up to Mangalore Central and from here about 75-80 passengers travel to Kannur. As a result, the train incurs a loss of Rs 2 lakh per day, Railway authorities replied to the RTI query.

On this basis, RL Dias, president, Railway Yatri Sangha and Rajeev Gaonkar, vice-president, Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivridhi Samithi filed a writ in High Court. SWR gave an assurance that the train on its arrival in Mangalore Central will be bifurcated into 10 and seven coaches and 10 sent to Karwar and rest to Kannur. However, the railway board did not consent to this event after two-years of the verdict.

Shankar Bhat, advocate, Bangalore filed a PIL in the High Court on the basis of papers given by the Sangha and the High Court passed a judgment on Monday. SWR has since given in writing to the High Court that it will submit the time table of Mangalore - Karwar extension and will start the train with 24 coaches - 12 to Karwar and rest to Kannur on or before November 15, RL Dias and Rajeev Gaonkar stated.