One Man's food is another Man's poison

We have heard so many examples and instances which explain the above proverb. Wanna know the latest one? Read Below:

Being a nature lover and one among the Mountain Roarers (www.mountainroarers.net), we wanted to venture on this Rail Trek. I guess it was 4 months back that we had planned; but we were told about this Good's train which plys on this track then and were advised not to venture this. The current news that the Indian Railways at last has bridged Mangalore Bangalore via Hassan with this new train, makes the idea of trekking this again a dream. Read below, an article in Times of India, Bangalore Date: 12/12/2007 page 7

TRAIN TO MANGALORE

Track TREKKERS stopped in their tracks
Ashwini Y S | TNN

Bangalore: It’s termed Trekker’s Paradise, with good reason. The tens of tunnels (with thousands of resident bats) and bridges, steep valleys and ravines, the wilderness and, most importantly, the abandoned railway tracks. All these make for one of the most exciting trekking routes in Karnataka.
For over 20 years, the Subramanya-Sakleshpur railway track drew hordes of trekkers and nature lovers. But now, the Mangalore-Bangalore Passenger chugs regularly on this stretch, following its maiden journey last Saturday. While scores of commuters are joyful, (finally, there is rail connectivity between the port city and Silicon City), it comes as a disappointment to many. As a trekker said, “The abandoned track has a charm that the running train doesn’t.’’
This stretch of 55 km on the Hassan-Mangalore rail route saw a never-ending trail of visitors, who weren’t deterred by the gaping bridges and bats and leeches. This beaten track is accessed from Gundya, a village on the Bangalore-Mangalore national highway, about 20 km from Kukke Subramanya. At the 13th km on Subramanya-Gundya road, the Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore railway line crosses over the road, where the trek would start.
“My first trek was on this stretch, hence it is all the more special. I ventured into this range with a bunch of friends in peak monsoon. The weather was fantastic, but the highlight was the track, tunnels and the bridges. As far as trekking is concerned, it is sad that the train has started plying on this route,’’ says Mumbai-based scribe Namitha J.
Pramod V N, a systems engineer with a software firm, too speaks with a heavy heart: “It is pitch dark inside the tunnels, and one would get bitten by the leeches endlessly. All these made for a great adventure.
However, the excitement which was
there around four years ago when I trekked here first has waned. Two years ago when I trekked here again, I realized that there was so many more people around, thanks to the broad gauge work which had begun on the track. There is no more a sense of mystery surrounding this region.’’
Avid trekker and artist Dinesh Holla lives in Mangalore, and has mastered the art of trekking on this stretch. “Now that one knows for sure a train is plying, trekkers would be fearful of this stretch. Even if the train comes, one can stand by its inside the tunnel, but not everybody would be up to this kind of an adventure,’’ he added.
According to South Western Railway general manager Praveen Kumar, it is not advisable to trek this track anymore as thee are plans to add more trains. “Currently, there are four goods trains going up and down the stretch. We are planning a day passenger train some time very soon, apart from an additional goods trains. In a year’s time, 20 trains will ply this route.’’
Though trekking is considered trespassing by the Railways, it can do little about it, he said. “It is highly unsafe to go on this route, but most trekkers are well-versed with train schedules so they take adequate precautions,’’ he added.

RIGHT TRACK
South Western Railway started Mangalore-Bangalore passenger service on Dec 8
8 goods trains ply the Subramanya-Sakleshpur stretch
SWR plans an additional passenger day train, apart from a few more goods trains
Plans also on to start Mail and Express services