Rail users forum launches petition demanding restart of Mangaluru Central- Katra Navyug Express
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users Forum has launched a petition campaign demanding the restoration of the Mangaluru Central–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Navyug Express (Train No. 16687/88), the only direct train linking Mangaluru to Jammu & Kashmir. The train service, which was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been reinstated, leaving lakhs of passengers from Coastal Karnataka and other parts of South India without direct rail access to North India.
The Forum has urged the Indian Railways to restart the service with a new route via Hassan, Hubballi, Belagavi, Miraj, and Pune. They argue this will significantly benefit students, pilgrims, defence personnel, traders, and the general public.
Earlier, Navyug Express functioned as a slip coach service, with 12 coaches originating from Mangaluru that joined another rake from Tirunelveli to form the complete train. However, post-COVID, only the Tirunelveli-Katra section was retained, and the Mangaluru-originating portion was discontinued. The Railways claimed the Mangaluru leg was merely a “slip” and dropped it altogether—an explanation that the Forum has condemned as unfair.
Anil Hegde, president of the Railway Users Forum, said, “The Navyug Express previously ran through Kerala, which increased travel time. Diverting it via Hassan and Arsikere will be more efficient. Moreover, with the cancellation of the Mangaluru–Miraj Mahalakshmi Express, there is a connectivity gap that the Navyug Express can fill.”
He added that this revised route would also provide long-awaited direct connectivity for pilgrims visiting religious sites like Subrahmanya and Dharmasthala. “Many devotees travel from North India to these sites, but there is currently no direct train service. This train will also serve the large North Indian workforce residing in Puttur, Subrahmanya, and Bantwal,” Hegde explained.
Additionally, the proposal seeks to offer an alternative link to Pune and Delhi from Mangaluru, thereby improving regional rail accessibility. Hegde pointed out that while trains like the Ernakulam–Pune Poorna Express and Ernakulam–Pune Express take different routes, the Navyug Express, if restored via the proposed alignment, would benefit passengers in Hassan, Arsikere, and Puttur en route to Pune.
Separate railway division
The Forum president further emphasized the need to upgrade Mangaluru into an independent railway division. “Mangaluru has the infrastructure and passenger traffic to justify division status. If implemented, it would resolve several long-pending local issues, including language barriers with Malayalam-speaking staff at local stations,” Hegde said.
While acknowledging recent improvements at Mangaluru railway stations, he called for more services connecting Mangaluru to other regions of Karnataka and the rest of India.
Hegde also stated that there have been a lot of developments in Mangaluru stations, however he demanded that more services should start between Mangaluru and the rest parts of Karnataka. He proposed that new trains be introduced on the Mangaluru–Ahmedabad, Mangaluru–Delhi, and Mangaluru–Bandra Terminus routes.
The Forum has appealed to the public to support their petition, which can be signed online at: https://chng.it/ZHyVGkdqFs.
A vital link between Coastal Karnataka and North India Tr No. 16687/88 Mangaluru Central–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Navyug Express was unfairly cancelled.
— Dakshina Kannada District Railway Users (@dkdistrictrail) June 8, 2025
This prestigious long-distance train connected our region to Jammu & Kashmir. We now demand its immediate revival via… pic.twitter.com/wsxBhcWpuy
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
