The Hindu Business Line : Move to reduce freight rates hailed

Though the Railway Budget for 2006-07 has not proposed any new trains on the yet-to-be-commissioned Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore route, members from the trade and industry here are hopeful that the trains — which were announced in the 2005-06 budget — will be commissioned soon.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr A. Srinivasa Rao, President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), said, "The Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad , had introduced three trains on the route in the last budget. Our impression is that since the proposed trains are not commissioned yet, status quo will be maintained in this regard. We hope that those trains will be commissioned soon."

Mr Yadav had announced three trains — Mangalore-Bangalore, via Mysore; Mangalore-Bangalore, via Arsikere; and Mangalore-Shravanabelagola, via Hassan - in the last budget. During the recent `mahamastakbhisheka' of Lord Bahubali, a 42-km stretch between Hassan and Shravanabelagola was commissioned.

Passenger safety

Mr G. Giridhar Prabhu, proprietor of Achal Cashew Industry and coordinator of special economic zone sub-committee of KCCI, said the Railways has given importance to the safety of passengers. It has already conducted six trial runs of goods trains on the Mangalore-Hassan stretch. Track stability is essential for the Railways to run passenger trains on the route.

Stating that passenger safety is uppermost in the minds of railway authorities, he said the Railways would soon commission the trains on the route.

Referring to the statement of the Minister on introducing a new train between Mangalore and Chennai, he said this train should run via Hassan. This will help to save time, he said.

Welcoming the move to reduce freight rates, Mr Prabhu said freight rate was overpriced all along. "Reduction in freight rates will help in the long haulage of basic raw materials for the industry, and will stimulate growth.

Above all, it will reduce strain on the road sector," he said.

Terming the budget as a populist one, Mr Rao said the reduction in the rates of AC first class and second class coaches will lead to the extensive usage of trains among the public. The new rates will give a competition to low-cost airliners, he added.

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