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.