Private bus lobby set to spoil Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat dream

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As per rumours, the Vande Bharat train allowed on the busy Bengaluru - Ernakulam interstate route has been withheld due to pressure from the private bus lobby.

The Vande Bharat rake received in March for the Bengaluru route is lying at Kollam station. This was the third Vande Bharat train allotted for Kerala. The new plan is to change the route and run the train between Thiruvananthapuram - Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram - Coimbatore routes.

The service earlier proposed suggested that the train leave Bangalore at 11:30 pm and reach Ernakulam at 8 am the next day and return from there at 9 am and reach Bangalore at 10 pm, the next day. This posed a serious threat to the lucrative business of the private bus connecting Kerala with Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the railway reasoned the delay for the indecision from the southern railway regarding the maintenance of the third Vande Bharat. At present, there are two Vande Bharat trains within the state, so there comes a pertinent need to run one service out of the state. The timetable and stops for the Bengaluru-Eranakulam service were fixed, but the service did not start due to the lack of maintenance facilities at Ernakulam. Even Venad Express was diverted from Ernakulam Junction to prepare the maintenance line for Vande Bharat. However, the night maintenance was not approved. Many call this a lame argument to mollycoddle the private bus lobby in Kerala.