Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has formally requested Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to introduce a direct train between Mangaluru and Ayodhya, citing strong public demand across coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka.
Currently, travelers endure over 40-hour journeys via Bengaluru or alternate junctions due to the absence of a direct route. Chowta emphasized that such a train would not only ease travel for pilgrims and tourists but also serve as a symbolic cultural link connecting southern and northern India. He proposed a weekly or bi-weekly train, potentially routed via Hassan, Arsikere, and Ballari, or through the Konkan line covering Madgaon, Kalyan, and Nagpur, to facilitate spiritual tourism and enhance national unity.
In a second appeal, Chowta requested the renaming of Kannur Express (16511/16512) as Rani Abbakka Express, to honor the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Abbakka, the 16th-century queen of Ullal. Recognized as one of India’s earliest female freedom fighters, Rani Abbakka fiercely opposed Portuguese invasions and upheld the sovereignty of her kingdom. The Kannur Express, which runs from KSR Bengaluru to Kannur via Mangaluru, passes through regions historically linked to her legacy.
Chowta stated that renaming the train would be a fitting tribute to her heroism and help revive public awareness about her role in India’s freedom struggle.