M’lore-B’ore day train ups tourism potential

M’lore-B’ore day train ups tourism potential
Wednesday January 9 2008 07:47 IST

Bosky Khanna

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BANGALORE: Nature lovers who always wanted to travel between Bangalore and Mangalore by train during the day to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Sakleshpur and Yedakumari ghats, now have a new avenue to explore.

The Tourism Department has announced that the maiden day train between Bangalore-Mangalore will help ‘train tourism’. The service, which is likely to begin in a couple of months will help the department promote eco-tourism and heritage destinations.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, Tourism Secretary I M Vittalamurthy said they have spoken to the Railways to start this additional rail service as soon as possible to boost the state’s tourism potential. The train will pass through the green trail routes of Western Ghats and Arsikere and Hassan.

We are keen to initiate promotional activities at these destinations, he said. “This train service will increase tourism potential two-fold, due to the connectivity,’’ he said. The proposed train will reach Mangalore in 10 hours, compared to the 12 hours at night.

It will not have sleeper coaches and its composition of coaches is yet to be decided. Bangalore Divisional Railway Manager Mahesh Mangal said that the date of its launch is yet to be finalised.

“The initial plan was mooted for two trains (day and night) but only a night train was launched as line capacity works at Subramanya and Sakleshpura are still underway. The train will run every alternate day and the trek route across the railway tracks will not be hampered.

Introduction of more trains is also on the cards,’’ he said. He added that the tourism potential will be discussed in detail with the tourism department at a later stage. “Our primary focus is on increasing the train traffic to and from Bangalore,’’ he added.