The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered the South Western Railway (SWR) to start a night train between Bangalore and Karwar via Mangalore by November 1.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna passed the order while hearing a public interest petition filed by city-based advocate Shankar Bhat and others. They petitioned the High Court after SWR on August 18, 2011, rejected their request for a night train to Karwar.
During the hearing, SWR’s counsel contended that it was ready to bifurcate the Yeshwanthpur-Kannur train at Mangalore and add more coaches for the Karwar route, but it would take at least 90 days to start the service.
To this the Bench commented: “Ninety days will be late. The service needs to start before November 1. We also expect the number of coaches to be increased to 24 from the existing 17 in the Yeshwanthpur-Kannur train. The SWR agreed to this.
Appearing for the state, counsel R G Kolle said, “There were only 28 to 30 people taking the train (to Kannur)... what is the necessity of train services from Mangalore to Kannur as the occupancy is so low?”
The court adjourned the case for further hearing.
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