Kerala - Kozhikode   

Residents want stops of trains restored

Staff Reporter

People submit demands to Railway authorities

KOZHIKODE: People of Vellayil have stepped up efforts to get the Railways concede their demands, such as elevation of the railway station in the locality to Kozhikode north station.

They have submitted a set of demands to the Chief Operations Manager, Southern Railways. These include restoration of stops for train no. 622 Kannur-Kozhikode passenger and 387/388 Mangalore-Coimbatore service and appointment of a permanent station master.

They have warned of agitations if the railway authorities do not respond favourably to the demands.

The people say that the stop for the Kannur-Kozhikode passenger service was cancelled in July 2002. The Kozhikode-Kannur service, which starts in the morning, however, stops at the station. Many passengers board this train. The people say the revenue earned by the station from this train alone is Rs. 1,400 daily.

They say the spacious building of the railway station had been dismantled as part of the Kozhikode-Mangalore rail doubling work. The new building built does not have basic facilities, such as toilet and drinking water supply.

Passengers have to wait for trains in the open at the two platforms do not have roofs.

There is no station master but only a halting agent. The station has no proper lighting, and it is a haunt of anti-social elements, the people say.

Representations to the MP and railway authorities did not yield any result, they allege.

Malabar Christian College, Malabar Christian College Higher Secondary School, MES College, Providence Higher Secondary School, Vellayil School, District Industries Centre (DIC), Vydyuthi Bhavan, All India Radio, Civil Station and other institutions are close to the station.

Choyunni Master Road Residents' Association says the Railway authorities can sanction stops on a temporary basis and make them permanent later when they are assured of sufficient revenue.

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