Mumbai CST-Mangalore Express to be extended to Ernakulam?
TNN
Mangalore, 01 February 2012: Even as the move by the railways to extend the night train from Yeshwantpur-Mangalore to Kannur is still fresh in the minds of people, here comes the news that the Mumbai CST-Mangalore Junction Express train (Nos. 12133/ 34) might be extended to Ernakulam or Thiruvananthapuram.
This comes at a time when people, both in Mumbai and here, are striving to ensure that the train starts from Mangalore Central, instead of Mangalore junction.Giving credence to this news is the fact that elected representatives from Kerala, numbering around 16 and comprising MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and MLAs, recently met railway minister Dinesh Dwivedi and submitted a memorandum to him, seeking the extension of the train services. The train, hitherto named Mangalore Junction Express, has since been renamed Mumbai Express, further fuelling doubts in the minds of the locals here.Oliver D’Souza, a Mumbai-based freelance journalist, told TOI over phone that the Kerala lobby has ensured that five trains that originated from Mangalore Central and ended at Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Mumbai have been extended to Ernakulam and beyond.
These include the Navayug Express, Garib Rath Express, Nethravati Express, and Mangala Lakshadweep Express and the holiday special train (train Nos. 01065/ 01066).Navayug Express, earlier connected Mangalore to Jammu Tawi, now does not even touch Karnataka after being extended to Ernakulam, Oliver said, adding that Garib Rath and Nethravati Express that operated from Mangalore Central to Lokamayna Tilak Terminus (LTT) are now operating to Ernakulam. The Mangalore Lakshadweep Express operating from Hazrath Nizamuddin to Mangalore Central is now operating to Thiruvananthapuram.Referring to holiday special train that operates five times a year from Dadar to Mangalore Central, he said its service too has been extended to Ernakulam.
Blaming local elected representatives for allegedly failing to protect the interests of local commuters, Oliver said the Kerala lobby also tried to extend the Mathsyagandha Express to Cannanore, but failed. "Our requests for additional trains to Mumbai are not being met, but our trains are being taken away," he lamented.Interestingly, K H Muniyappa, minister of state for railways, had justified the extension of Yeshwantpur-Mangalore night train to Kannur on grounds that Indian Railway is the property of the nation and not the sole preserve of any state. Oliver said Muniyappa should not totally sacrifice the interests of local commuters, but at least work towards increasing the number of bodies on trains 12133/ 34 and introduce additional trains to Mumbai.
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| Railfan, Mangalore | Thu, February-2-2012, 11:56 |
| Which idiot has written this article? Garib Rath was running from Kochuveli from the day one. It was never terminating at Mangalore Central. Navyug Express still comes to Mangalore !! Netravati runs till Trivandrum and not Ernakulam. Mangala Lakshadweep terminates at Ernakulam itself and doesn t touch Trivandrum as given in the article !! And I don t think we can call Muniyappa a Minister. He is a clown having no other work. Goes to every state and entertains people !! If we want trains, we have to fight people not just comment ! | |
| Srivatsa Udupa, Mangalore | Thu, February-2-2012, 5:08 |
| Given that 12133/12134 is running full everyday already, what will be the condition of the commuters/passengers if it got extended to Ernakulam? Matsya Gandha Express is running full 24x7. People struggle to get seats in it. CST Express was a relief but now if it s extended to Ernakulam, I don t have to elaborate the result. All summer specials/winter special trains run between Kerala and Mumbai. What s D.K and Udupi Dist? A real place on earth or a fictional planet, where people exist as though they don t? Our requests are continuously getting ignored. They gave an absurd reason of not having enough space for Mumbai Express at Central but at the same time they managed to introduce the Palakkad Intercity. Doesn t it require space? How did they manage space for that? These questions remain unanswered, unasked! | |
| Mark Fernandes, Moodubelle/Pune | Wed, February-1-2012, 9:25 |
| Last year Indain Railways had started a Super Fast train from Pune to Ernakulam. It has got halts in almost all stations in Kerala. It is unfortunate that this train does not have halts at Karwar and Udupi.I do not understand why railway authorities understand the importance of Udupi and Manipal being great educational centres. It is true that the malayalees are spread all over India but it doesn t mean that other places to be neglected. | |
| Benedict Noronha, Udupi | Tue, January-31-2012, 10:59 |
| This train was demanded by us from Mangalore to Mumbai because travellers from D.K Udupi districts were not getting accomodation to travel to the north. If it is extended to Thiruvanamthapursm the same problem of accomodation will rise. It is for Karnataka C.M. M.P./MLAs and leaders to join public and raise the protest voice. If our leaders do not take up the issue , then it is time to boycott coming election and offer bangles to the M.P.s / MLAs and other leaders by organising a protest meeting at Mangalore Udupi. Every one should join in the protest and there should not be party poilitics. It is also time to raise vioice demanding Bangalore Mangalore train to Karwar as was committed by Mr Muniyappa. In Congress party Muniappa is to lead in strengthening the Party and he will visit D.K., Udupi and U.K districts. If the Bangalore Mangalore night train is not estended to Karwar before his visit, every one must show him protest in a fitting manner and say that we boycot his paprty. Then only the Central Government lead by Congress will protect our interest. Let us fight the cause. say- Jai ho! | |
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