Mangaluru: Sothern Railways which has been giving several reasons for not realizing the many demands for trains for coastal Karnataka has shown its discriminatory side by starting another train from Mangaluru Junction To Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on June 9th.

Already there exist four direct trains from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram.

The people of Karavali are displeased by the allocation of additional train by the Southern Railways coming under the pressure tactics of Keralites. The new ‘Antyodaya Express’ in between Kochhuvali-Mangaluru train (16355/16356) will be launched by Minister of State (Independent Charge) Railways, Rajen Gohain on June 9th.

The people of Karavali feel that since there already exist 4 express trains between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram including ‘Parashurama Express’, ‘Malabar Express’, ‘Maveli Express’ and ‘Mangaluru- Thiruvananthapuram Express’, starting another train for the same region is unnecessary. Since the number of travelers is more to that region a new rail has been started, explained an official.

Since many years there has been unceasing a demand for the re-launch of Mahalaxmi Express via Mangaluru-Hubballi-Miraj road, which was stopped on the excuse of out dated construction in 1994. Due to the heavy density of train commuters along the Kannur-Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway line and Karwar-Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway line, there is demand for a new train along this route.

There has been a recurring demand to start trains between Mangaluru-Ahmedabad, Mangeluru-Rameshwar, Mangaluru-Vijayapura, Mangaluru-Kanyakumari and to various other parts of the state, which the railway department has chosen to ignore. The department is only trying to satisfy the Keralites, says a person from Karavali.

Since Managluru railway station come under Palghat division, more importance is given to trains that go from Mangaluru towards Kerala. If the fight for creation of a separate Mangaluru railway Division does not intensify, more will be lost, observers a traveler.

Even small demands are ignored

From almost a year, travelers have been requesting to extend the popular ‘Gomateshwara Express’ between Mangaluru-Bengaluru till Mangaluru Central Railway Station.

However, the Southern Railways department has chosen to ignore this small demand by giving the excuse that there is a lack of platform at Mangaluru Central railway station. The department simply does not make up its mind to fulfill any demand, is the criticism given by the people.

There is a call for the people of Karavali to take to Twitter with #Mangalururailwayzone and send tweet to the Prime Minister and Railway Department about the several unfulfilled demands of the region including the creation of Mangaluru Railway Division, the realization of the small demands of Karavali and condemn the discrimination meted out by the southern railways department by not providing new railway service demands from many years. Come; let’s start the ‘#Mangalururailwayzone Tweet Movement’ today.