Even though Kanniyakumari is represented by a union minister in the Central government, new trains have not been introduced to serve the district in the last three years, according to Congress leaders.
Leading an agitation in front of the Nagercoil Junction here on Monday, R. Radhakrishnan, party president, Kanniyakumari East, said the Congress government had introduced 20 trains to serve the district over the years. The Bharatiya Janata Party government had also failed to take the initiative to lay Kanniyakumari-Tiruchendur-Thoothukudi and Aalur-Chettikulam new lines, surveys for which were conducted during the Congress rule.
Though track doubling between Madurai and Kanniyaumari was sanctioned during the previous railway budget, the work had not been started yet. Though the railways was earning Rs. 40 crore from Kanniyakumari district, it had been neglected by the Thiruvananthapuram division of the Southern Railway, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
Other demands
The party’s other demands were: introduction of a daily night train between Kanniyakumari and Mangalore via Thiruvananthapuram; extension of Tiruchi-Tirunelveli Inter-City Express to Thiruvananthapuram; and new daily train between Nagercoil and Chennai.
Colachel MLA J.G. Prince and other leaders from the Congress participated in the protest.
