The Hindu : Kerala News : Rail passengers seek better facilities

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Thursday, Feb 03, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Rail passengers seek better facilities

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, FEB. 2. A meeting held under the banner of the Malabar Train Passengers Association here today sought intervention of the MPs from Northern Kerala to improve travel facilities on trains.

The organisers of the meeting had announced that all the MPs in North Kerala would attend the programme. However, all the MPs did not turn up at the meeting inaugurated by Abdusamad Samadani, MP.

Speakers voiced their protest at the inordinate delay in the completion of the doubling of the track between Mangalore and Shoranur.

Some participants felt that daily problems faced by commuters, including the late running of trains, should be given priority.

Grievances aired

Long-standing demands of commuters in North Kerala were highlighted at the meeting. It was pointed out that though doubling of the railway track between Mangalore and Kozhikode had been completed, work between Kozhikode and Shoranur had been delayed. Only the tracks between Feroke and Kallai and between Tanur and Parappanangadi had been doubled so far.

Speakers urged the MPs to raise a demand for early completion of the work in Parliament. They added that the demand for the appointment of a Special Officer to take care of Railway matters in Kerala and acceleration of the ongoing work at Palakad Railway station were being ignored by the authorities concerned.

Super-fast train sought

Later, in a resolution the participants appealed to the MPs to press for a super-fast train from Goa to Chennai in view of the shortage of accommodation for passengers on existing trains.

The meeting also called upon MPs to urge the Railway Ministry to increase the frequency of the Yaswant Express that goes through Bangalore from Kannur; introduce a commuter train between Tirur and Vadakara; establish a broad-gauge line connecting Nanjagunda station (Mysore Chamaraja Nagar) with Nilambur for speedier travel from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi to Mysore and Bangalore and to improve trade in Wayanad; and timely running of trains between Kozhikode and Mangalore.

Members at the meeting voiced their protest against the heavy parking fee charged at Kozhikode railway station. They appealed to the MPs to persuade the authorities to exempt two-wheelers from the fee and for parking for a duration of less than 20 minutes.

The association's president, U.K. Damodaran and the president of Calicut Chamber of Commerce and Industry, C.E. Chakunny, were among those who spoke on the occasion.

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