More than two weeks after the last run of the immensely popular Visakhapatnam-SMVT Bengaluru special train, which had overwhelming patronage, has ended, the Railways is silent on its extension. This has been happening on and off for nearly a decade.
Nearly a decade ago, the South Western Railway (SWR) had operated a special train from Bengaluru to Visakhapatnam heeding the request of people from Visakhapatnam and north Andhra region working in Bengaluru, who used to travel regularly to their homes in Visakhapatnam. The train was a runaway hit thanks to its favourable timings.
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) subsequently replaced the train with a bi-weekly Suvidha Special (02877) on Tuesdays and Fridays from Visakhapatnam to Krishnarajapuram in November 2015. Despite the inconvenient timings, it used to have tremendous patronage. The train was subsequently cancelled.
Later, SWR on October 28, 2016, introduced the Yesvantpur-Visakhapatnam-Yesvantpur Special Tatkal Fare with convenient timings. The train used to leave Yesvantpur on Friday evenings at 6.35 p.m. and arrive in Visakhapatnam at 2.35 p.m. on Saturdays. In the return journey, this train used to leave at 1.45 p.m. on Sundays and reach Yesvantpur by 9.05 a.m. on Mondays.
Subsequently, this train was cancelled, and on persistent demands from the people of Visakhapatnam region, 08543/44 Visakhapatnam-SMVT Bengaluru SF special was introduced by ECoR. Though the timings of this train were inconvenient, it was still highly patronised by travellers from the region as there are no other originating trains from Visakhapatnam.
ZRUCC Member K. Eswar has written to the Railway Board officials on December 11, seeking operation of a daily train between Vizag and Bengaluru in view of the tremendous demand.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy had written to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in March 2022, on the need to start a daily train from Visakhapatnam to Bengaluru via Vijayawada and Tirupati. He recalled that the Prasanthi Express, which used to originate from Visakhapatnam, was extended to Bhubaneswar, which resulted in the curtailment of its allocated reservation quota for Vizag.
“ECoR officials have already proposed extension of the run of 08543/44 Vizag-SMVT Bengaluru special. However, South Central Railway (SCR) officials are reluctant to run this train though South Railway (SR) and SWR have agreed to it,” according to Daniel Joseph, a railway activist, who is familiar with the functioning of the Railways.
“Normally, trains are operated in new routes on an experimental basis for about six months. When there is consistent demand, they are made regular trains. But, despite the consistent high patronage, this train was continued as a special train for years together,” he opines.
Published – December 13, 2024 09:32 am IST
