Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary has asked Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) to provide forthwith coach watering facility at Udupi Railway Station thereby helping the Railway Ministry to introduce new trains from stations in between Madgaon and Mangaluru.

In a letter to KRCL Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha on October 8, Mr. Poojary said the Corporation has failed to provide coach watering facility at any of its stations in the State of Karnataka even after three decades of its formation. The need for such a facility has now become extremely important as several trains planned by the Ministry do not operate up to Madgaon or Karwar; but terminate at intermediate stations, including Murdeshwar, Kumta or Kundapura due to operational reasons.

He cited the examples of Train No. 16585/586 SMVT Bengaluru-Murdeshwar-SMVT Bengaluru Express and Train No. 12789/790 Kacheguda-Murdeshwar-Kacheguda Express that terminate at Murdeshwar. Also, the Election Special Train 2023 ran only up to Kundapura.

Direct connectivity

Mr. Poojary said, “It is also pertinent to note that passengers from Konkan Railway region strongly prefer direct connectivity to Bengaluru via Padeel Bypass, avoiding circuitous routes. Establishing a watering facility between Udupi and Murudeshwar would therefore be strategically essential to support future train operations along this direct corridor.“

Water supply

Assuring adequate provision for water supply at Udupi Railway station by the State government, Mr. Poojary said that he would ask the government to do the needful. He asked the CMD to send a proposal for a coach watering facility to Udupi Deputy Commissioner and the ZP CEO, similar to the one given by KRCL to Uttara Kannada ZP for watering facility at Karwar.

Mr. Poojary said all long-distance trains from Kerala receive watering at Mangaluru Junction and only 3-4 pairs of trains require watering along the KR section. Therefore, the proposal may include a scientific assessment of the daily water requirement to justify the facility.

The MP said the local administration would provide adequate water supply to the proposed facility similar to the one established by KRCL at Chiplun in Maharashtra catered to by local water sources.