Date:30/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113061030300.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

Lalu Prasad’s itinerary for December 8

Special Correspondent

MANGALORE: Although Railway Minister Lalu Prasad flags off Mangalore-Bangalore passenger train here on December 8, the first train carrying passengers will run from Bangalore that evening.

Mr. Lalu Prasad will flag off a “ceremonial train,” from here which will go to Bangalore, general manger of South Western Railway Praveen Kumar told The Hindu.

The train, he said, will have 16 coaches comprising one air-conditioned two-tier coach, one air-conditioned three tier coach, eight sleeper coaches, two coaches with luggage rooms, and four general second class coaches.

He said the Railway Board was expected to issue a notification on making reservation arrangements for the Bangalore-Mangalore train via Mysore latest by Friday. The train would be included in the network immediately after the notification is issued, Mr. Kumar said.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will arrive here by a special IAF plane on December 8 to inaugurate the Mangalore-Bangalore passenger train service.

Leaving New Delhi at 9 a.m. the chartered plane will arrive here at 11.45 a.m. He will arrive at Mangalore Railway Station at 12.30 p.m. to flag-off the train. He is scheduled to be in the station for one hour at the inaugural function. Mr. Lalu Prasad will take part in the luncheon organised by chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission M. Veerappa Moily at Circuit House. He will fly to Tirupati at 3 p.m. to attend a function organised by the South Central Railway in the temple town, and leaves for New Delhi at 10.30 p.m. He is expected to reach Delhi by 12.30 a.m.