The UPA government which introduced a flurry of trains squeezed the MAQ CDO launching Maveli (only a weekly when introduced, then tri-weekly and daily), Ernad and CBE Intercity apart from the weeklies and bi-weeklies from other divisions/zones.
During the whole time (06-14) SWR was playing spoilsport for running passenger trains via Sakleshpur citing HMRDC. This paved the way for the resources of MAQ to be made available for Malabar.
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Maveli (becoming a daily) replacing Matsyagandha in the West Coast/Mail/Malabar RSA led to 6347/48 (another TVC train) being extended from CAN.
12685 which was introduced as a tri-weekly became the most patronized train of the route for end to end passengers and got a daily run. Same with 12133 (introduced as a Tri-weekly) which is preferrable ahead of Matsyagandha. But it is a CR train, so SR will not extend it to MAQ with Matsyagandha trailing it.
The NDA government which have tightened up purse strings on new trains in the south, have not helped Mangalore by much. And SR instead of accommodating/guaranteeing whatever little that comes are making it many times worse by extending the overnight SBC connection to CLT.
MAQ has just got 2 more PFs and 1 additional pitline than before. SR must ensure it deploys these resources primarily for trains via Hassan.
Else, MAQ CDO needs to be taken over by SWR by transferring at least the Padil-Kankanadi-MAQ line to SWR. SR would be able to maintain contiguity with KR this way and may eventually have to shift some of the existing trains to MAJN (where there is scope for additional development) or JOKT (which still remains a ghost station).
It would be similar to the arrangement NR and NER have in Varanasi or Bareilly.