This is not true at all. I have travelled in this train. It stops for more than an hour at JRU and food vendors (locals) take advantage of it. They sell pulav - 20 rs per plate or plate Idly. They station themselves on PF1 with a big vessel and lots of paper plates and many get down and have hearty food and wait for that UBL passenger to come.
Those who bring their own food, get down and sit down on PF1 floor and eat with family. Its like a big picnic to see :)

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I have told sometimes food will be available in less quantity not always. I have faced a situation where I was traveling to Bengaluru with 5 friends. But when my friends went to take food only 3 of them bought food. They was saying food was over. They also said it happens only sometimes and shared the food with remaining friends.

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I will give tips only when I am sure of it. Don't misunderstand me. I have personally purchased vegetable pulav from Rayadurgam station while traveling in this train to Bengaluru. And regarding Pavagada many private buses will be available from Challakere which I have witnessed. KSRTC buses are not available in this route. There are some private buses from Ballari to Pavagada via Challakere. You can re-check through other sources regarding private buses from Challakere to Pavagada.

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Yes there are buses to Pavagada from Challekere. What I am saying is - tip is conveying that Pavagada can be accessed from Challekere. Literally its true.
But its Penukonda with more trains and most importantly - half the distance - of Challekere, which is a better tip to give for the visitors.

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Ok. I agree that distance between Pavagada and Penukonda is less. But this tip can be useful for people travelling through Ballari and Chitradurga region. For people travelling through Ballari and Chitradurga region entering Pavagada through Challakere is shortest. For people entering through Andhra obviously Pavagada to Penukonda is shortest. Don't mistake me. As Pavagada is sandwiched between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh people can have different routes by train and bus as per their proximity. I have just given one possibility. People can choose their route depending upon their location.

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