Kochi: Call to make Bengaluru special train regular

Kochi: The heavy booking for the recently introduced Bengaluru special continued as demands have come up from various quarters to make the weekly train a regular one.

The first service on Sunday ran full as ticket prices crossed Rs 4,000 per person for third AC and Rs 1,550 for sleeper class seats of the train which operates on dynamic fare basis. The high demand continued with the tickets for the May 5 service too getting close to sold out.

As on Monday evening, the ticket prices touched Rs 3,560 for third AC seats (36 remaining) while that for sleeper class (140 seats remaining) was Rs 1,295.

"This shows the inadequate travelling options in the Bengaluru sector. With the recent controversy involving a private luxury traveler, people are increasingly opting for trains to travel to the garden city and back. In the wake of the heavy commuter patronage, the authorities should take steps to make the weekly special a regular one as a lot of people travel back to Bengaluru on Sundays," said P Krishnakumar, general secretary of the Thrissur Railway Passengers Association.

Meanwhile, frequent Bengaluru passengers have called for increasing coaches of the train which has two 3 tier AC, eight second class sleeper, two general coaches besides two luggage cum brake van.

"The service has come as a boon as we were finding it hard to get tickets in the buses. However, the train has lesser coaches when compared to other express trains. We also request the railway authorities to convert the same to a Tatkal special service as the fare is too high under the dynamic ticket pricing," said Kiran Thomas, a techie working in Bengaluru and a native of Ernakulam.