KOZHIKODE: Southern Railway authorities said here on Monday that it was for the State Government to take the initiative to rename the Vellayil railway station as Kozhikode-North. The concurrence of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was also needed for the purpose.

The Railway authorities were responding to a representation made by the Malabar Train Action Committee of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce to upgrade Vellayil Station and rename it as Kozhikode-North in order to ease congestion at Kozhikode railway station.

The Malabar Chamber of Commerce has sent another representation to the State Government drawing its attention to the response it had received from the Railway authorities.

In the representation addressed to Minister in charge of Railways M. Vijayakumar, Chamber secretary K.P. Aboobacker urged the State Government to take necessary action to upgrade Vellayil station.

It said the promised development at Kozhikode railway station had not yet materialised and the need for satellite stations was now strongly felt.

The Vellayil station, during track doubling operations in the Mangalore-Shoranur sector, was deprived of many facilities, including a waiting hall.

These have not been restored.

Though only three passenger trains halt at Vellayil, the revenue from the station is Rs. 1,25,000 a month.

It is also close to many important institutions, including Malabar Christian College, High School, MES Women's College, Providence Higher Secondary School, AIR, Kozhikode Corporation Office and the Government hospital.

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