Mysuru: The first run of the Vishwa Manava Express from Mysuru to Hubballi (via Bengaluru) that was flagged of yesterday received good response this morning. The train started its journey from Mysuru at 6.15 am, reached Bengaluru at 9.10 am and proceeded towards Hubballi.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Railway officials said that the response was good on the first day with over 200 people booking direct tickets to Bengaluru. The response from daily commuters from Srirangapatna, Mandya, Maddur and Ramanagaram too was good. “From tomorrow we are expecting the train to be filled to capacity and it will ease pressure on Chamundi Express,” officials said.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu yesterday flagged off the inaugural run of the express train through a video link from New Delhi. The live streaming of the event was organised at Mysuru Railway Station on Platform No. 6 in the presence of Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and Divisional Railway Manager Atul Gupta and other officials.
The Hubballi-Varanasi-Hubballi Weekly Express train was also flagged off. The new service from Mysuru to Hubballi (train number 17326) will be a relief to thousands of daily commuters. The corresponding service from Hubballi (train no. 17325) was also simultaneously flagged off through video link by Suresh Prabhu.
The train from Mysuru will depart at 6.15 am to reach Bengaluru at 9.10 am and depart at 9.15 am and reach Hubballi at 7.05 pm.
Speaking to reporters after the flag off, Pratap Simha said that the new train is well before the scheduled timings of Chamundi Express and will reduce the number of passengers on Chamundi and help commuters reach their workplace on time.
With the introduction of this train, there are 25 train services between Mysuru and Bengaluru. Commuters had demanded a new train as the Mysuru-Bengaluru Chamundi Express was overcrowded with an occupancy rate of more than 200%. As against the capacity of 1,200 passengers, nearly 2,400 passengers travel daily in each direction.
“It is a long-pending need of the people for another morning train. Initially it was suggested that the train be named Nandi, Kadamba or Wadiyar Express, it was rejected by the authorities. I had mooted the idea of naming the train as Vishwa Manava Express as poet laureate Kuvempu who gave the concept of ‘Universal Man’ had brought laurels to Mysuru. I am happy that the train carries the message of humanity,” he said.
“Kuvempu though born in Malnad region had brought name and fame to Mysuru with his association with University of Mysore and he brought the first Jnanpith Award to Kannada literature,” Simha added.
Mysuru Division Assistant DRM Ajai Kumar Singh, Senior Commercial Manager S.G. Yathish were present.
Luggage scanner at Mysuru Station
As an additional security measure, the Mysuru City Railway Station will soon get a luggage scanner and it will be installed at the main entrance. According to Railway officials, two personnel from the Railway Protection Force will be deployed to ensure that the baggage is checked before the passenger boards the train.
The luggage scanners will be like the ones installed at Namma Metro stations and the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. An order has already been placed and the luggage scanner will be installed in a month, officials said.
This superfast express train running between Mysore- Bangalore is inappropriatley named as Tipu Express during Jaffar Sheriff period who was the railway minister. This should be renamed as KrishnaRaj Wodeyar Express in memory of the then Rulers of Mysore Kingdom. They have immensely worked very hard to develop the then Mysore State including the Railways. The people of Mysore will be immensely pleased if the present Railway Minister Mr.Suresh Prabhu considers this very seriously to rename this Superfast express in the memory of the Wodeyars. We expect the honorable railway minister to take necessary action in this matter.
Thanking you,
Krishna & other Mysoreans
you are absolutely correct sir.
hope many people will raise this issue.
This train to be named as Krishna raja wodeyar Express
Well the tipu express is called as superfast express on for name sake. It takes nearly three hours to reach Bangalore. Though it reaches by 1315 hrs Nayandahalli, it will halted either at NAYANDAHALLI or at the Outer. and when it enters KRS Bangalore station it will be nearly 1400 Hrs. Then why we should call it superfast and charge more. Well I feel the railway authorities should think about it.