Date:26/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/26/stories/2006072602622300.htm

Back `Restore goods train services on New Mangalore, Hassan route'

Our Bureau

Mangalore , July 25

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the Railway Ministry to recommence goods train services between New Mangalore and Hassan.

In a letter to the Union Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, the KCCI Honorary Secretary, Mr Shekhara Pujari, said that the goods train service on the route started in May this year.

"The commencement of goods train on this route had shown a ray of hope. But, to our dismay, the goods train service on the route has been stopped," he said.

This has affected transportation of fertiliser cargo from the port to the hinterland areas, causing inconvenience to the farmers.

Due to stoppage of train service on the route, beneficiaries are compelled to move their goods via Kerala and Goa.

The freight charges earned by the Railways after the commissioning of the route for goods traffic amounted to almost Rs 10-12 crore, Mr Pujari said.

Quoting the Railway officials, sources in the port said that operation of goods train on the route has been stopped temporarily due to landslips on Mangalore-Hassan route.