Super fast Tipu Express becomes super slow after Kengeri! Any solution?
Bengaluru: Travelling by Bengaluru-bound Tipu Express from Mysuru has become a nightmare for hundreds of commuters all because of the failure of the train to adhere to the timings. As a result, many people have been missing the train for the onward journey to Chennai and other places after arriving here from Mysuru.
Tipu Express usually departs from Mysuru at 11:30 am and reaches Kengeri at around 1:15 pm. But to cover the 12 km distance from Kengeri to Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Station (KSR Station in Majestic), the train takes at least an hour! In fact, the superfast express train covers the 40 km distance from Mandya within 35 minutes but takes at least one hour to reach the KSR station in Bengaluru.
Sources said a clash of timings with the Mysuru-bound Malgudi Express is the reason why Tipu Express gets inevitably delayed. Malgudi Express reaches KSR station at 1:40 pm and departs at 1:50 pm. However, this train always arrives late at KSR Station from Yesvanthpur Station after the routine cleaning and leaves Majestic at 2:05 pm or 2:10 pm. Since the Tipu Express has to arrive on Platform No 8, it cannot proceed from Kengeri or Nayandahalli stations until Platform No. 8 is vacant.
Mr Suresh, a Tipu Express regular, told Deccan Chronicle that people travel in the superfast train by paying Rs 75 (express train fare Rs 60) but still the train arrives at KSR Station 45-50 minutes behind schedule. He wanted to know why people should pay superfast fares when the train runs like a passenger train between Kengeri and KSR station. Raghavendra Rao, another traveller suggests a solution-the Chamarajanagar passenger train which arrives on Platform No 9 in the morning, departs only at 3:25 pm and instead of stationing it on the platform for six hours, Tipu Express can be accommodated on Platform No 9.
Similarly, the Bengaluru-Kochuveli Express is also stationed on Platform No. 6 for long hours and that train too can be moved to the pit line to allow Tipu to arrive in Bengaluru, he says.
On Thursday, Tipu reached Kengeri at 1:15 pm and left at 1:45 pm. It was again stopped at Nayandahalli from 1:45 pm to 2:20 pm and then stopped on the outer track for 25 minutes. The train reached KSR Station at 2:45 pm, a delay by 55 minutes.
The divisional railway manager of Bengaluru division said all platforms at KSR station are full. “We are open to suggestions to improve punctuality. We will also consider the suggestions to allow Tipu SF train on Platform No 9 or 6. However, rescheduling of departure timing from Mysuru at 12 noon instead of 11.30 am is left to the Mysore division of South Western Railway,” he added.
