Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KDRUA) has condemned the “indifferent attitude” of Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division, and urged the extension of Maveli Express to Nagercoil or Kanyakumari.
In a release issued here on Sunday, P. Edward Jeni, secretary, KDRUA, alleged that the officials of Thiruvananthapuram division were neglecting the long-pending demand for extension of Maveli Express to Nagercoil or Kanyakumari. But they had proposed to operate a passenger train between Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam by using the rakes of 16603/04 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Maveli Express.
The thousands of passengers from Kanyakumari district, travelling to north Kerala for employment and other purposes every day, were disappointed by the proposal.
Mr. Jeni said that the proposal of the officials showed their unprofessional and indifferent attitude.
“If Thiruvananthapuram Division can’t fulfil the needs of the people in Kanyakumari district, why should we continue to be under its jurisdiction?” he asked.
He said that Rameswaram-Kanyakumari tri-weekly express (Train no. 22622/22621) which was left lies idle at Kanyakumari for more than 17 hours could be operated as daytime intercity service to Madurai. Similarly the rakes of Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express (Train no. 16609/16610) which lay idle at Nagercoil for more than 13 hours could be operated as daytime passenger service to Sengottai or Tiruchendur via Tirunelveli, he added.
The KDRUA appealed to the Southern Railway and the Railway Board to extend Maveli Express to Nagercoil or Kanyakumari.
