VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Malayalees Welfare Association has sought the running of a special train for the convenience of Ayyappa devotees visiting Sabarimala from November 13.
In a letter East Coast Railway General Manager Umesh Singh on Saturday, association president N. Dhanapalan and general secretary M.P. Kuriakose appealed for introduction of a special train from Nov 16, 2016 to Jan 15, 2017 in the route of train no. 18567/18568, running between Visakhapatnam and Kollam.
It is a practice for the railways to introduce the special train in view of non-availability of accommodation on the Visakhapatnam-Kollam train during the Sabarimala season. They noted that the devotees have been awaiting an early announcement from the Waltair Division so that they could book their tickets.
The special train had been a great relief for devotees in the past. APS RTC has already announced the operation of specials to Sabarimala and also opened a special booking counter at the Dwaraka Bus Station in Visakhapatnam, in this regard. They reiterated their appeal to the GM to accord an early approval for the operation of the special train.