Karnataka High Court has directed the Railway Board to take steps to start night-train facility between Bangalore and Karwar via Mangalore.
Hearing a PIL seeking night -train facility, the division bench comprising Chief justice Vikramjit Sen and justice BV Nagarthna took Railway Board and Union Railway Minister to task for neglecting Karnataka in providing rail facilities. The court directed the board to submit a report on adding additional bogies to Bangalore -Kannur vial Mangalore train.
The HC rejected the boards contention that it was difficult to run the night-train as it had to pass through Western-Ghats. Since night-journey would save lot of time, people prefer to travel in night, the court said.
The court also came down heavily on railway board for neglecting South India, particularly Karnataka, though one of the union ministers of state for railways hails from the state.
The hearing was adjourned for four weeks.