Members of the Vijayanagar Railway Passengers Association met the General Manager of South Western Railway at his office in Hubballi to present a detailed memorandum concerning long-pending railway demands related to Koppal, Vijayanagar, and Bellary districts.
Led by the association’s president and senior ZRUCC member, the delegation highlighted a series of long-pending demands aimed at improving rail connectivity, enhancing passenger services, and boosting regional tourism. The memorandum also extended a warm welcome and congratulations to the new General Manager on his appointment and invited him to personally visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi and Anjanadri Hills to experience the cultural pride of Karnataka.
Key demands outlined in the letter include:
- Restoration and regularization of Train No. 07335/07336 (Belagavi – Hyderabad – Manuguru), which remains suspended due to the Kumbh Mela. The association stressed the importance of resuming this train on all days with a permanent five-digit number to support industrial commuters and air travelers.
- Daily operation of Train No. 17313/17314 (Hubballi – Chennai Express), currently running only twice a week. This would cater to the growing passenger demand from North Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
- Increased frequency of the Mysuru – Shirdi Express (Train No. 16217/16218) via Hospet-Gadag, from weekly to thrice a week, to accommodate the high number of Shirdi pilgrims.
- Introduction of a Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Hospet to promote tourism to Hampi and Anjanadri Hills, which witness a large influx of domestic and international tourists.
- Expansion of Train No. 14805/14806 (Yesvantpur – Barmer Express) to a daily service, with 4 days via Hubballi-Miraj and 3 days via Ballari-Hospet-Gadag-Bijapur, to facilitate better connectivity for travelers heading to Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
- Alternate routing of Train No. 07377/07378 (Vijayapura – Mangalore Express) for 3 days a week via Hospet-Davanagere, to improve accessibility in central Karnataka.
- Replacement and upgrade of rakes for Train No. 11139/11140 (Hospet – Mumbai CSMT), as the current coaches are outdated and in poor condition. The association has requested conversion to modern LHB coaches with increased capacity.
- Extension of Train No. 06533/06534 (Mysore-Hubballi-Jodhpur Special) till July 2025 to meet travel demands during marriage season, holidays, and festivals.
- Development of Platforms 4 and 5 at Hospet Railway Station, to ease congestion and accommodate DEMU trains that currently block the main platform area.
The association noted that many of these issues were already discussed in previous ZRUCC meetings and urged the General Manager to take swift action. The GM assured the delegation that their concerns would be reviewed seriously and addressed in consultation with the concerned departments.
The meeting reflects the growing demand from stakeholders for improved rail infrastructure and services in North Karnataka, a region that plays a crucial role in the state’s tourism and industrial landscape.