Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070451451700.htm

Back Train extension to Kannur to bring down Mangalore quota

Our Bureau

Mangalore, July 3 At a time when people of Mangalore were expecting the introduction of a day train for passenger movement between Mangalore and Bangalore, the extension of the existing night train between Bangalore and Mangalore to Kannur in Kerala has come as a shock.

Terming it as a minus point in the otherwise good budget, Mr G.G. Mohandas Prabhu, a trader from Bunder area of Mangalore, told Business Line that the extension of the existing train number 6517/6518 Bangalore-Mangalore to Kannur will bring down the quota for Mangalore considerably.

Stating that the train is overcrowded from Mangalore itself, Mr Giridhar Prabhu, cashew processor and exporter, said the Railways could have introduced a new train on Bangalore-Mangalore-Kannur route.

Mr Srinivas S. Kamath, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), said the chamber had submitted a memorandum to introduce a day train between Mangalore and Bangalore. However, that did not materialise.