A significant achievement for railway passengers in Dakshina Kannada has been reached after an 18-year struggle, as the Indian Railway Board has officially approved the extension of the Mangaluru Central-Kabaka Puttur passenger train to Subrahmanya Road Station.

The proposal for the extension was earlier recommended by the Southern Railway, based in Chennai, and the South Western Railway, based in Hubballi, in a joint submission to the Railway Board on November 25, 2024. The decision was formally announced on Tuesday, with an order issued by Vivek Kumar Sinha, the Railway Board’s Joint Director (Coaching).

The revised schedule for the Mangaluru Central-Kabaka Puttur-Subrahmanya Road Passenger Train is as follows: It will depart from Mangaluru Central at 4:00 am, reaching Subrahmanya Road Station by 6:30 am. The return journey will depart Subrahmanya Road at 7:00 am and reach Mangaluru Central by 9:30 am. In the evening, the train will leave Mangaluru Central at 5:45 pm, arriving in Subrahmanya Road at 8:10 pm, and will return at 8:40 pm, arriving at Mangaluru Central at 11:10 pm. Although there was an initial request for the train to halt overnight at Subrahmanya Road Station, it was not feasible due to technical limitations.

The approval of the extension has been met with widespread joy from passengers and railway activists. The extension will provide a reliable and affordable travel option for pilgrims traveling to the Kukke Subrahmanya temple, as well as daily commuters from areas such as Subrahmanya, Edamangala, Kaniyur, and Sarve, who can now travel to Mangaluru more easily.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was instrumental in securing this extension, initially raising the issue in Parliament. MP Brijesh Chowta continued to advocate for the cause, even personally meeting with the Railway Board Chairman. Both MPs, alongside railway activist Hanumanth Kamath, expressed immense satisfaction at the fulfillment of this long-standing demand.

“This is a collective victory for all of us,” said Brijesh Chowta, noting the great benefits it would bring to devotees traveling to Kukke Subrahmanya.

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