Railway cancellations during Dasara season upset Karnataka commuters

South Western Railway has cancelled day train services on the Bengaluru–Mangaluru and Bengaluru–Karwar sectors during much of the Dasara travel period, upsetting commuters and passenger associations. The cancellations affect 26 round trips between October 4 and November 4, with services operating for about a week from October 16 to October 20. The railway said the interruption is needed for a line block to carry out track maintenance and engineering work between Siribagilu and Yedakumari stations on the Subrahmanya Road–Sakleshpur Ghat section.

G. Hanumanth Kamath of the Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti criticised the timing. He said October brings school and college holidays, travel for Navaratri and Mangaluru Dasara, and visitors to Mysuru Dasara.

Kamath also questioned why work had been scheduled during a period of high demand, suggesting that weekday work or a later date would have reduced disruption. The source material says he also raised suspicion about possible pressure from other transport interests, without providing evidence for that claim. Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager Mudit Mittal said ballast tamping between Yadakumari and Siribagilu was overdue and that landslips had recently occurred.

He said the scheduled period was the minimum time required and that trains would run during Dasara week. The cancellations affect Gomateshwara Express services between Yeshwantpur and Mangaluru, Karwar Express services and weekly trains on the same broad routes. The railway provided specific cancellation dates for each service.