: Southern Railway has earned record revenue collection of Rs 5.5 crore during the two-month Mandalam-Makaravilakku Sabarimala pilgrim season, according to
official sources. Chengannur railway station topped the revenue collection followed by Kottayam.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) too operated the highest number of services to Pampa from the Chengannur railway station during the period.. The corporation operated 5,662 services to Pampa from Chengannur station during the two-month period. As many as six lakh pilgrims travelled by the KSRTC to Pampa from Chengannur.
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Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom (ABASS) national vice president D. Vijayakumar, who was in charge of the Sanghom base camp for pilgrims at Chengannur, was of the opinion that the facility provided by the Railways at Chengannur was inadequate, considering the needs of the huge number of pilgrims.
Though the Railways had declared Chengannur the Gateway of Sabarimala, the authorities had not taken necessary steps to provide foolproof basic pilgrim facilities at the railway station, he said. However, the ABASS leader was all praise for the services rendered by the staff of the Railways as well as the KSRTC
Mr. Vijayakumar called upon the Railways to open a food plaza at Chengannur, run by the IRCTC. Similarly, more dormitories should be constructed on the railway station premises, besides ensuring uninterrupted water supply, effective sanitation, 24-hour cloak room, modern retiring rooms, and a VIP lounge, he said.
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Mr Vijayakumar urged the government to explore the possibility of constructing a parallel road to Pampa either from Laha or Perinad.
He said the State government should press for the proposed Chenganur-Pampa rail route via Aranmula.
KSRTC services
The ABASS leader said the KSRTC should start a Chengannur-Kulathooppuzha service via Achenkovil,besides two inter-State services to Velankanni and Tiruchendur via Palani and
Madurai on a daily basis. He said the Kozhencherry-Ranni-Vadasserikkara Road should be developed into a State Highway.