South Western Railway (SWR) has appealed to merchants association of North Karnataka to reduce the detention time of goods trains, so that the rakes are released early to accommodate more goods trains.

SWR Divisional Railway Manager, Hubli division, Mr Praveen Kumar Mishra, who inspected Bijapur and Bagalkot stations recently interacted with merchants in the merchants' room attached to goods shed inBijapur, said although the goods shed is open at 24 hours with adequate lighting facility in the night, merchants are not utilising it fully.

Mr Mishra inspected the condition of the railway running room, bed rooms, the food served to the staff, kitchen and drinking water facilities at Bijapur.

He also inspected the health unit of Bijapur, asked how many patients are treated in a day, and checked the medical records. Later, he checked whether the computerised passenger reservation system was working, inspected the station manager's room and VIP lounge, and checked records of train operations.

At the Bijapur station, some local passengers' representatives headed by Mr B.L. Purohit, a senior citizen, submitted a memorandum for improving the facilities in the station and to improve the speed of trains on the Hotgi-Bijapur-Gadag section under Hubli Division.

Besides, they also urged Mr Mishra to provide a connection to Haripriya Express (train no. 17416) that goes to Tirupati for the people of Solapur, Bijapur and Bagalkot areas, who arrive at Gadag station by the Solapur-Bagalkot Passenger/Bagalkot-Gadag Passenger.

At the Bagalkot Railway Station, he inspected the passenger reservation system, booking office, charts and records in the deputy station manager's room and the foot-over bridge connecting platform no.s 2 and 3 with platform no. 1. He also inspected the goods shed.

He directed the engineering officials to strengthen the tracks between Hotgi and Gadag, so that trains running on the section could be faster.

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