Mangaluru sources have stated that the South Western Railway’s decision to divert Train No. 16515 Yeshwantpur-Karwar tri-weekly express via Nelamangala and Shravanabelagola instead of Tumakuru and Arsikere reduces journey time by just 10 minutes. At the same time, its decision to revise the departure timing of Train No. 16575 Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction Gomateshwara Express from 7.50 a.m. to 7.10 a.m. would extend journey time by 40 minutes.
The SWR on Saturday announced the diversion of Yeshwantpur-Karwar-Yeshwantpur tri-weekly express via the shortest route with effect from June 2 from Yeshwantpur and June 3 from Karwar. Instead of the 7 a.m. departure, the train departs from Yeshwantpur at 7.10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to reach Mangaluru Junction at the existing time of 5.40 p.m. It takes 1.48 hours to traverse 19 km between Bantwal and Mangaluru Junction.
Meanwhile sources in SWR pointed out that the
journey time of Karwar-Yeshwantpur Express has been reduced by 1.30 hours with
the diversion. The trains, both Yeshwantpur-Karwar Express and
Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction Express, have to wait for a long time to enter
Mangaluru Junction Station, which comes under southern railways thereby,
lengthening the journey hours. If the southern railways agree to receive the
trains early, the journey hours would be reduced, sources added.
Vinay Kumar, member of SWR’s Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, regretted that the diversion did not reduce journey hours and lamented that the zone is unresponsive to commuters’ needs.
