KOZHIKODE: The passenger forums here have demanded more train services to Bengaluru, Mangalore, Pondicherry and Hyderabad to ease the travel difficulties of the people even as the Motor Vehicles Department has cracked down on erring long-distance luxury buses.
The forums have urged the state government to take up their demand with the railway ministry so that the exploitation of passengers by luxury buses can be ended. The private bus lobby had torpedoed the railway ministry plans to start train services to Bengaluru from Malabar, it was pointed out.
The Confederation of All-India Rail Users' Association said in a statement that the passengers from the region were hit by the lethargy of the authorities in operating special train services on the route during summer vacation.
From Malabar region and south Kerala, as many as 1,25,000 people regularly travel to Bengaluru, the release said.
There are only 42 train services on the route from south Kerala and just 16 from Malabar, it said.
CAIRUA chairman C.E. Chakkunni told DC that the organisation would submit a memorandum to the chief minister and other ministers to force the railway ministry to operate more services on the Bengaluru route.
The confederation will send a representation to the chief minister as well as Public Works Department Minister G. Sudhakaran, who is charge of railways in the state, demanding urgent intervention. A detailed memorandum has been submitted to the authorities concerned, he said.
