Thiruvananthapuram: A new Vande Bharat sleeper train has been recommended in the Thiruvananthapuram – Bengaluru route, said the general manager of the Southern Railway at the recent meeting of the MPs in the Thiruvananthapuram division. A few months ago, the popular Ernakulam - Bengaluru Vande Bharat was discontinued stating that it was a festival special train. Meanwhile, the railway authorities assured Harris Beeran MP and Hibi Eden MP that the railway station at Nedumbassery would be constructed and that they would also consider developing a railway terminal at the Ernakulam marshalling yard. Anto Antony MP was told the railway would flag off the Angamaly – Erumeli Sabari route if the state government were willing to share the expenses.

Besides, allowing a stop for the Rajyarani Express at Thiruvalla would be considered. The MPs demanded that the Velankanni train be made a daily service and that all the stops before Covid be resumed. John Brittas MP and Adoor Prakash MP urged the authorities to implement the Nemom terminal project fully. Meanwhile, KC Venugopal MP complained that the approval for the estimate for doubling the Thuravoor – Amablappuzha line is being withheld. He said that the railway’s excuses that trains would be extended only after the doubling works are completed and that the estimates aren’t duly approved cannot be accepted. He also demanded to increase the number of coaches in the trains that run via Alappuzha.

NK Premachandran also complained that the MPs' recommendations were ignored when the railway decided to construct over bridges by spending 100 per cent of the expenses. He urged to allow a Vande Bharat train in the Thiruvananthapuram – Chennai route and new services in the Kottayam – Coimbatore route, and also to speed up the MEMU shed development works and station renovation in Kollam. The MPs demanded to fill the vacant posts in the railway construction department as soon as possible. They criticised that the Amrit Bharat station development projects were progressing at a snail’s pace.

Harris Beeran MP requested the railway to install automatic doors in trains and also to allow stops for more trains in Tirur. Meanwhile, MPs Shashi Tharoor and John Brittas urged the authorities to swiftly complete the railway line construction in Vizhinjam. Kodikunnil Suresh MP demanded to increase the coaches in the Kollam – Ernakulam MEMU, approve the Kollam -Coimbatore service and also to extend the Nilambur – Kottayam train up to Kollam. Francis George MP wanted the railway to allow more train services to Kottayam.

Criticism for the emergency quota
Meanwhile, the DRM and the senior divisional commercial manager of the Palakkad division were severely criticised at the meeting for refusing to respond to the MPs’ emergency quota applications. Kanyakumari MP Vijay Vasant, Thirunelveli MP Robert Bruce, southern railway manager RN Singh, principal chief operations manager T Sivakumar, chief commercial manager Beji Geroge and other senior officials attended the meeting. KC Venugopal MP joined online as he also had to attend the Public Accounts Committee meeting.

Palakkad – Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat
The general manager told VK Sreekandan MP that the Palakkad–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat train would be considered if the pit line starts functioning at the Palakkad town station. Meanwhile, the MP protested against the delay in constructing the pit line. The authorities assured that the construction of the pit line would be completed quickly. The general manager noted that more train services could be started from here when the project is completed. Pit line for 26 coaches is being constructed at Palakkad. The MP demanded to allow a stop at Ottappalam on an experimental basis for the Ernakulam – Bengaluru intercity. The authorities explained the progress of the infrastructure development at Palakkad, including the station renovation, in the meeting. They noted that the new lift and the parking services at the Palakkad Junction station would be included in the Amrit Bharat project.

DRM Arunkumar Chaturvedi, deputy GM Ajay Kaushik, principal operations manager P Sivakumar, principal mechanical engineer P Suresh, principal chief electrical engineer Somesh Kumar, chief construction administrative officer Shaji Scaria, principal chief engineer M Khalot, principal chief commercial manager Beji George, ADRM S Jayakrishnan, senior divisional mechanical engineer S Sureshkumar, senior DEN Muhammad Islam, divisional operating manager K Balamurali, senior DCM Dr. Arunkumar Kalathinkal and DSC Navaneet Prasad attended the meeting.

Palakkad shines
MPs congratulated the Palakkad division for securing the top operational efficiency spot in the national rankings. VK Sreekandan presented the division's achievements at the MPs' meeting. The MP who vowed to continue the good work congratulated the Palakkad team for their amazing contributions. The Palakkad division had also secured first rank in war room performance, which receives complaints from the passengers and takes necessary actions on them.    

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