Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has written to Union minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, requesting a direct train from Mangaluru to Ayodhya. The MP reached out to the minister in response to the growing public demand from the people of the coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka.The MP stated that a direct train between these two cities would not only serve the growing travel needs but also emerge as a symbolic cultural corridor, beautifully showcasing the ancient bonds between southern and northern India.Since there is no direct train at present connecting the two cities, passengers are forced to undertake long and inconvenient journeys via Bengaluru or other junctions, often spending over 40 hours in transit. A direct train would bring relief to the pilgrims and devotees and would be wholeheartedly welcomed by lakhs across the coastal and Malnad regions. A weekly or bi-weekly direct train between Mangaluru and Ayodhya via Hassan, Arsikere, and Ballari, or via the Konkan railway route that includes Madgaon, Kalyan, and Nagpur, will greatly promote spiritual tourism, cultural exchange, and ease of travel for citizens of coastal Karnataka, the MP said.Rename Kannur Express as Rani Abbakka Express Chowta also urged Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to rename the Kannur Express (train No. 16511/16512) as Rani Abakka Express in honour of one of India’s earliest and fiercest freedom fighters, Rani Abbakka of Ullal.This year marks the 500th birth anniversary of Rani Abbakka, and it presents a fitting moment to pay tribute to her indomitable courage and patriotism. As the queen of Ullal in the 16th century, Rani Abbakka led a valiant resistance against Portuguese colonial forces, defending the sovereignty of her land with unmatched bravery.Renaming the Kannur Express, which originates from KSR Bengaluru and terminates in Kannur, and passes through the coastal belt of Karnataka via Mangaluru, would be a symbolic tribute to her legacy as a national hero, whose contributions deserve broader recognition, the MP stated.
