Bangalore-Mangalore day train still a dream

Bangalore-Mangalore day train still a dream
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By Team Mangalorean, Mangalore

Bangalore/Mangalore, June 2, 2008: The Bangalore Mangalore train that started earlier this year was a dream come true for the regular travellers between the two cities, especially the businessmen and common people; it gave a definite advantage over the overnight bus travel which was the only transport mode other than flying.

The train is now full perennial and it is not available for unplanned travellers between the two cities. The reservation for sleeper class is always filled up for weeks and the railways are not inclined to add few more bogies to the train.

When the train was flagged off by the Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav at Mangalore in 2007, it was announced that a second day train would also be introduced in due course. That due course is yet to arrive as the people wait patiently. The railways perhaps do not understand the scope this route has. It is not only the passenger traffic but also the goods traffic and the tourist traffic that can be introduced.

The Department of Tourism that had launched the 'Golden Chariot' Luxury tourist train earlier this year can also be run on the Mangalore- Bangalore railway line which could be one more attraction to the international tourists. The route passes through some of the most beautiful spots in the world at dizzying heights. But the railways think that should not be seen by the ordinary people and they decided to take the train in that route in the night. While the passenger slept the train passes through the beauty spots.

While the Golden Chariot is expected to generate a revenue of around Rs. 88 lakh when run in full capacity (88 passengers) with each passenger paying close to Rs. 1 lakh (calculated at the prevailing dollar-rupee exchange rate) for the seven-day-seven-night journey, the Rs. 24 lakh towards haulage charge has come as a jolt. But the Railways is oblivious to such scope and allowing the route to go waste.

However it has allowed the illegally mined iron files and manganese ore to be taken via this route to the Mangalore Port. The illegal miners of Bellary and Sandhur who have now become Ministers in the state cabinet will use all their might to block the passenger traffic on this route and reserve it exclusively to their use. In that case even the night train might go off the track depriving thousands of travellers of their inexpensive mode of travelling between the two cities. Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Railway Board should be alerted on such a possibility.