Hubballi: South Western Railway (SWR) will route the 16535/16536 Pandharpur-Mysuru Gol Gumbaz Express via Hubballi South (bypass) and Gadag bypass, skipping SSS Hubballi junction and Gadag junction, following Railway Ministry approval.In a June 19 letter, Sanjay R Neelam, director (coaching), Railway Board, New Delhi, said the ministry has approved stoppages at Hubballi South and Gadag bypass, avoiding the junction stations.The move has drawn criticism, as SWR had earlier maintained that bypass lines would be used only for goods and special trains.Vasant Ladawa, former president, Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hubballi, alleged that SWR was neglecting its own headquarters and disconnecting Hubballi from Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts. “SWR is facilitating only Bengaluru going-coming passengers from Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts. Union minister Pralhad Joshi, who seems to be influential in the union govt, has said in his social post that he only helped Vijayapura MP Ramesh Jigajinagi to get this train skipped from Hubballi Junction, should clarify his stand whether he represents Dharwad or Vijayapura,” he said.Netizens also questioned Joshi over the move, raising concerns about its impact on Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency. “For thousands of devotees going to Pandharpur from Hubballi and Gadag, Gol Gumbaz was the only daily train,” they said.Shrinivas Shastri, a frequent traveller, urged SWR to make public passenger data for Gol Gumbaz Express since its inception in 1971. “Now SWR is running many trains, including Gol Gumbaz Express, from Arsikere to Mysuru via Bengaluru taking seven hours, though there is a railway line via Hassan to reach Mysuru in four hours. Same SWR says it wants to save time by skipping at Hubballi and Gadag junctions. If it really want to save time for Vijayapura and Bagalkot passengers, why doesn’t it use dual locomotives on both ends? Railway is using WAP-7 push-pull locomotives on premium trains in North India but it is not in South citing the reason of financial feasibility,” he said.An SWR accounts official, requesting anonymity, said trains skipping Hubballi and Gadag junctions could incur losses. “When we operated special trains recently, occupancy was less than 50%,” he said.Earlier, in response to aTOI report, SWR had said Gadag bypass was not yet open for passengers. The latest decision, however, provides a stoppage there for Gol Gumbaz Express.Joshi, speaking at a press meet on Saturday, defended the move. “There are many trains between Bengaluru and Hubballi. Even Bengaluru-Mumbai super fast express is also running via Hubballi. If Gol Gumbaz express skips Hubballi and Gadag avoiding locomotive reverser, time of about one and half hour will be saved for Vijayapura and Bagalkot passengers. Moreover this express passes Hubballi and Gadag in odd hours, it’s not convenient for both city passengers. We will request the railway minister to run another train between Hubballi and Pandharpur,” he said.Here is a solutionSWR can address concerns by attaching locomotives at both ends, as done with premium trains like Vande Bharat. WAP-7 push-pull locomotives are used in North India to avoid time lost in locomotive reversal. The last coach functions as a locopilot’s cabin and control unit, allowing the train to be operated from the other end without changing the locomotive.
