With the Madgaon-Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) Express rake routinely sitting idle for nearly four hours in Mangaluru, various patrons and passenger associations are campaigning for its extension. They propose extending the service to Subrahmanya Road (SBHR) or at least Kabaka Puttur.
Proponents argue that this extension would not only ensure optimal utilization of valuable Railway assets but also establish seamless end-to-end connectivity, linking the state of Goa directly with Kukke Subrahmanya, a prominent pilgrim destination in South India.
Currently, the Madgaon-Mangaluru Central service arrives at Mangaluru Central at 11:30 a.m. during non-monsoon periods and 12:30 p.m. during the monsoon season. The return service from Mangaluru Central to Madgaon departs at 3:30 p.m. Extending the service to SBHR would effectively eliminate this significant idle time, putting the rake to much better use, according to the Puttur-Subrahmanya Railway Users Association.
Connecting Sacred Sites and Tourist Havens
G. Hanumanth Kamath, President of the Mangaluru-based Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samithi, fully supports the demand, emphasizing that the extension should proceed as long as it doesn’t negatively impact existing passengers. He believes the rake’s idle time could be perfectly utilized by stretching the service to SBHR, thereby creating a vital link between numerous pilgrim and tourist centers along the coast, from Kukke Subrahmanya all the way to the temples around Ponda, Goa. Minor adjustments to the service timetable could facilitate this extension, he suggested.
Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains are celebrated for offering comfortable and budget-friendly journeys to passengers.
B. Shreekara, a member of the Puttur-Subrahmanya Association, highlighted the multifaceted advantages of the extension. Passengers would gain a continuous rail corridor connecting coastal towns with significant spiritual sites like Kukke Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, and Puttur’s Shri Mahalingeshwara Temple. Additionally, families from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi traveling to Kuladevata shrines in Goa would find a more convenient and cost-effective travel option. The current route already connects major pilgrim centers such as Udupi, Kollur, Murudeshwar, and Gokarna; the extension would firmly integrate Puttur and Kukke Subrahmanya into this expansive network.
A Simple Operational Adjustment
Mr. Shreekara pointed out that since the entire stretch from Madgaon to Subrahmanya Road is already electrified, there should be no technical impediments to extending the MEMU Express. He described it as a straightforward operational adjustment that promises extensive benefits at minimal cost.
Furthermore, he added, the extension would effectively address the current gap in train connectivity between Mangaluru and SBHR, which exists daily between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.</