Mysuru: The Tipu Express, a train running between Bengaluru and Mysuru, has been renamed as the ‘Wodeyar Express’ by the railway ministry. The news first announced by Mysuru MP Pratap Simha on his Twitter page.
MP Pratap Simha tweeted, “Good news on Friday! Now instead of Tipu Express, ‘Wodeyar Express’ will serve you!! Mysore-Talaguppa train will be ‘Kuvempu Express’!!! Thank you Ashwini Vaishnav Ji and Prahlad Joshi Ji for supporting this effort, Sir!”
“Thanks to my friend DP Satish for the cool name suggestion – ‘Kuvempu’! Thank you for your blessings,” he further tweeted. Notably, Kuvempu is the pen name of the great Kannada poet Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa.
Pratap Simha also shared letters he had written to the railway minister in July, which stated, “Considering the contributions of the Wodeyar Dynasty not only for the development of the Railways but also for transforming it as a modern state, there is a strong sentiment among the people of my parliamentary constituency to rename T.No.12614113 super fast daily express between Mysore-Bengaluru City-Mysore as “WODEYAR EXPRESS”. This is perhaps, the most fitting tribute to a visionary and pragmatic ruler who was instrumental in executing vital railway projects which in turn led to rapid economic development among the most developed Princely States in British India.”
Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai also expressed gratitude to the railway ministry and hailed the move. “Thanks to the Union Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw for renaming the Mysore – Bangalore Express and Talaguppa – Mysore Express as Wodeyar Express and Kuvempu Express respectively. It is an apt recognition of our rich heritage & glorious past,” he tweeted.
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