Mangaluru (DHNS) : The Karwar-Kannur-Mangaluru-Yeshwanthpur Express (16523/16517) will not run on the new route--Hassan-Shravanabelagola route.

The South Western Railway has clarified it in a RTI query sought by Anil Kumar Hegde.

In another development, the railways has indicated that there is no possibility of reducing the time taken (from 18 to 16 hours) for the trip between KarwarMangaluru -Yeshwanthpur.

According to the RTI reply which is available with Express, the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committees (DRUCC) of both Mysuru and Bengaluru have not agreed to the diversion of the train from the present Hassan-K R Nagar-Mysuru-Mandya-Ramangaram-Hejjala-Yeshwanthpur route.

The reply also has clarified that there was no proposal from the Railway Board to divert this train to the new route.

DRUCC members of both divisions have pointed out that the connectivity to Mangaluru, Karwar and Kannur in Kerala was available to the people of Mysuru, Bengaluru and Mandya and Hassan only through this train.

The train passes through some top centres of health, religious, beach and educational tourism in Mangalur u , Udupi - Manipal, Kollur, Kukke Subramanya and Madhur in Kasargod district in Kerala state. The DRUCCs have visualised a good potential for this route if marketed well.

Railway activists said this train was the only link to the coast, as the Bengaluru-ShivamoggaHonnavar route has not been completed due to stoppage of the track at Talaguppa from Honnavar in Uttara Kannada.

According to Railway sources, this stretch is unlikely to be completed following the large scale forest denudation and fragmentation of wildlife corridors and habitats.

It is for the same reason the Ankola Hubli route was shelved.

The passengers from Mangaluru to Bengaluru were hoping to get this train on the new route as they will have a night train by the shorter route, but they are now stuck with the Gomateshwara Express.