KSRTC undecided on new services

Faced with widespread criticism for not operating adequate number of trains from cities in the State to Bengaluru despite the whopping demand, Railways have agreed to introduce weekend special trains, mainly from Kochuveli and Ernakulam, to Bengaluru.

The development comes in the wake of a meeting between Principal Secretary (Transport) K.R. Jyothilal and Member (Traffic) of the Railway Board Girish Pillai in New Delhi on Thursday. Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran had asked Mr. Jyotilal to take up the issue with senior railway officials.

This summer itself

Mr. Jyothilal is learnt to have apprised the railway official of the problems in inter-State commuting. Railways are expected to introduce weekend special trains during the ongoing summer vacation season, when demand peaks for public transport between the State and Bengaluru.

In the wake of the attack, railway passenger associations have expressed dismay at Railways and the State government doing little to alleviate the suffering of passengers. The Thrissur Railway Passengers Association (TRPA) had submitted a memorandum to the Transport Minister on Wednesday highlighting the harassments and threats faced by passengers from Kerala to Bengaluru at the hands of private bus operators.

“The high number, nearly 300, of buses plying between the State and Bengaluru daily points to the need for introducing two or three daily premium-class trains from destinations such as Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur to Bengaluru,” said P. Krishnakumar, general secretary of TRPA.

The KSRTC, however, has not taken any decision on augmenting services to Bengaluru. “We operate 48 daily trips to Bengaluru, while the Karnataka State RTC operates a few more services to cities in Kerala. We operate 28 weekend and holiday trips as well, mostly by non-AC buses,” said a high-ranking KSRTC official.