Thiruvananthapuram: To ease the heavy passenger flow expected during the Velankanni Church Festival and Navratri, the Railways has sanctioned additional special trains across Kerala. The decision came after a high-level meeting between State Transport Minister V. Abdurahiman and railway authorities, where the growing demand for festival travel arrangements was discussed in detail.
According to the agreement, ten special trains will operate from Ernakulam and four from Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the Velankanni Church festival. Authorities also assured that more services could be added if needed. For passenger convenience, the railways have agreed to issue advance notices on train schedules, helping devotees and travelers plan their journeys without last-minute confusion.
The discussion also addressed long-pending demands, particularly on the congested Alappuzha–Kayamkulam stretch. Railway officials noted that while augmentation has already been done on the single line, the full relief will come once the long-awaited double line project is completed. On the Thiruvananthapuram–Mangalore route, preparations are being drawn up to tackle monsoon-related disruptions, especially falling trees and landslides, in coordination with district administrations and disaster management teams.
The minister further raised demands to reinstate the Ernakulam–Kollam MEMU service, discontinued during the Covid period, and to increase the number of general compartments on existing trains. Both requests are under active consideration by railway officials. Another pressing issue was the inconvenience faced at Varkala Kapil, where the elevated railway line makes road crossing difficult. A decision was reached to coordinate with the Public Works Department to construct an underpass to resolve the problem.
With these measures, the state aims to ensure smoother festival travel for devotees and commuters, reinforcing the government’s push for stronger collaboration between railway authorities and state agencies in addressing Kerala’s transport challenges.