Increase Rail Infrastructure in south districts of Tamilnadu, public demand

The people of Kanyakumari district wholeheartedly welcome the Hon’ble Members of Parliament to pilgrimage as well as to an international tourist destination called Kanyakumari. They have brought to their attention the following proposals of rail infrastructure development for consideration.

1. People humbly request the railway authorities to consider laying of a third line between Kanyakumari to Nagercoil Jn. (16 KM) exclusively meant for movement of empty rake between Kanniyakumari to Nagercoil for maintenance purposes. The fund meant for CAPE pit line construction, building of IOH shed, staff quarters and other infrastructural amenities may be effectively reallocated /utilised for laying of third line between Nagercoil Junction and Kanniyakumari Terminal.

2. Nagercoil Town (NJT) & Nagercoil Jn (NCJ) stations are falling on Thiruvananthapuram – Kanyakumari line and are situated at the outskirts of Nagercoil city. The location of the station is not easily accessible to the passengers. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is carrying out construction of Karode- Kanyakumari four-line road project. This new four-line road is very near to the opposite side of Nagercoil Town (NJT) and Nagercoil Jn (NCJ) railway stations. We request to construct a new approach road cum second entry connectivity with four-line road. With the construction of the new road, passengers will be able to easily reach the railway station without the traffic congestion prevailing in the city.

3. For the free movement of trains in the busy Nagercoil- Thiruvananthapuram section, and to improve the punctuality of existing trains and reduce congestion of this section it may be considered to construct two more platforms. This station platform 1 and platform 2 will be a loop line and both mainline will be in the center.

4. Recently, during the rainy season many landslides occurred between Nagercoil to Thiruvananthapuram section. However, due to the train cancellation, railways incurred heavy losses as well as inconvenience caused to passengers. As the doubling project is going on, in this section, I request you to kindly make use of this opportunity to resolve these issues permanently, by constructing the tracks broadly so that even if a landslide occurs, it should not fall on the railway track. Also, kindly make Nagercoil Town, Kulitturai (KZT) and Eraniel (ERL) railway station as four plus two line (6 line) crossing sections. So, even in case of landslides, the trains can be parked conveniently in Nagercoil Town, Kulitturai and Eraniel, eliminating any congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central and Nagercoil Jn. Unfortunately, railways has been ignoring this issue from long time.

5. Currently the 1A Platform in Nagercoil Jn. is linked only to the Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram line to receive the trains coming from the Thiruvananthapuram side. We request take steps may be taken to link 1A Platform with the Nagercoil-Tirunelveli line too. If this platform is linked with the Nagercoil-Tirunelveli line too that would facilitate to receive trains coming from the Tirunelveli side also.

6. Request for construction of two separate dedicated tracks for Nagercoil Town – Nagercoil Junction (5Km), Nagercoil Town – Aralvaymozhi (16Km) and Nagercoil Junction – Aralvaymozhi (13Km) for the benefit of free movement of trains in this section.

7. We humbly request the railway authorities for the free movement of trains in the busy Nagercoil- Trivandrum single line section, and improve the punctuality of existing trains and reduce congestion of Nagercoil Town  (NJT) station to construct two more platforms (4 and 5) works need to be speeded up.

8. We humbly request the railway authorities construct five stabling line at Nagercoil Town (NJT) Railway station.

9. The Nagercoil Town railway station is located very near to this CWC godown. Now the railway department track-doubling project is under process. They will surely remodel this station as per the project. This station is now being upgraded into a crossing station. So We kindly request you to construct a separate goods siding line in Nagercoil Town. (NJT) station. If the goods shed is shifted from Nagercoil Jn to Nagercoil Town, following will be the advantages for CWC, the public as well as the Railways.

10. The approach road to the Kulitturai Railway station from state highway, which is on the Marthandam – Karungal S/H, is very much crowded and cumbersome. The approach road has always been is in a very bad state, which makes commuting by this road an uphill task. In spite of having annual revenue of Rs.10 crores, Kulitthurai does not even have a proper wide approach road.  So we need separate good wide approach road for Kulitturai Railway station. So We kindly request you to construct a new approach road alone with the railway track towards TVC direction upto railway tunnel NH-47 (Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram National highway).

11. Eraniel Railway station is the main railway station of Kalkulam taluk of Kanyakumari District. The Eranial railway station master office & entrance is located in the platform-1 towards Kanyakumari direction in dead end.  If any passenger wants to reach this station they have to get down at C.S.I Mission Hospital, Neyyoor bus stop and have to walk again around one km to reach the station entrance. The catchment area is more to this station when compared to other stations. But because of the above said reason this sector is not getting the proper revenue. Now the railway department track doubling project is under process. So We kindly request you to extend the platform towards TVC direction at the dead end Road over bridge. Also, we can make this area as a second entry with construction of a small room Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevak office (JTBS).

12. We would like to bring to your notice that there are many representations and requests from the people of Swamithoppu, Thengankuzhy, Ozhuginasery and Parvathipuram in the Trivandrum- Kanyakumari railway line that new one minute halt stations must be established in these three places. These are important points as they are easily accessible to passengers.

13. Swap railway line within two division:

As per our people request, the railway board has given the green signal and all administrative formal concurrence has been completed from all the departments to swap the railway line between Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai railway division. Also for your kind information as per Railway Board’s proposal to General Manager, Southern Railways proposal Letter no. 2015/E&R/1(3)/10 dated 06-06-2017 the proposal was agreed with all the departments’ concurrence. But this is so far not implemented at the final stage. It’s my sincere request to consider our plea and initiate quick efforts in separating (Kanyakumari – Balaramapuram (BRAM) (excl) and Nagercoil – Tirunelveli) from Trivandrum and attach the same with Madurai railway division for the convenience of passengers. At the same time, Kollam- Bagavathipuram (excluding) be transferred to Trivandrum division. There is no loss for the Trivandrum and Madurai divisions as such.

14. Request to set up a new Electrical locomotive factory in Nanguneri (Tirunelveli District)

For the overall development of southern part of Tamilnadu, it is requested to setup an electrical locomotive factory in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district. Also, I suggest you to setup this factory with public private partnership.

15. Extension of proposed Trivandrum – Chengannur suburban railway service to Tirunelveli via Nagercoil

The Indian Railways and Government of Kerala are planning to introduce Thiruvananthapuram – Chengannur suburban rail corridor 125-km-long stretch. Along with this project the Ministry of Railways and Tamilnadu Government should join hands to extend this project as Trivandrum-Nagercoil-Tirunelveli stretch. Because Kanniyakumari district is thickly populated density of the population is next to Chennai .It is also second most urbanized district in Tamilnadu. Considering these factors, Chengannur–Trivandrum Suburban train service may be extended up to Thirunelveli.

16. Request to Kanniyakumari- Ramanathapuram-Karaikudi East Coast Railway line

A new East Coast Railway line from Kanniyakumari to Karaikudi via Tiruchendur, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram was announced and sanctioned. We request you to expedite these works and complete this project at the earliest for the overall economic and tourist development of south TamilNadu.

They strongly propose that after completion of terminal facilities at Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari station, no additional train should be extended or operated via Trivandrum Kerala route except (16347/16348 and 16345/16346). Sir, you are very well aware that Kanniyakumari district is politically part of Tamilnadu.

We want more train service through our state especially in Tirunelveli, Madurai direction as these trains are only getting more income to railways. We strongly oppose any unwanted type of circuitous route trains (purely beneficial to Kerala sectors) to be operated from Nagercoil/Tirunelveli just for cleaning and maintenance purpose, which will affect our own genuine demands. Finally, our genuine demands for more trains towards Madurai will be relegated.

Some officials in Trivandrum Division wrongly guided (misguide) Railways for operating Circuitous trains via Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Coimbatore. These trains not only attract poor patronage but also yield very poor income for Railways. They also eat into limited infrastructure available at Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. Conversely the trains operated via Nagercoil, Thirunelveli, Madurai, Pollachi, Palani, Tirupathi, Karaikal/Velankanni, Chennai, Hyderabad, Howrah, Kharagpur, Purulia etc. etc. yield railways High revenues.

Considering the above aspects, we are humbly requesting The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Railway Minister and Chairman Railway Board to direct concerned railway authorities to implement the rail infrastructure facilities for Kanyakumari district as mentioned above (1 to 16). Also, humbly requesting to resolve our deep-rooted grievances with Trivandrum Railway Division.

Thanking you
Yours faithfully,
Thanks & Regards,
Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KKDRUA)
2nd Floor, 4 Gandhi Street,
Kottar, Nagercoil-629002,
Kanyakumari District.