End to Kasaragod’s travel woes? District Collector intervenes with Railways

KASARAGOD: In a major move aimed at resolving the long-standing travel grievances of commuters in the district, the Kasaragod district administration has formally approached the Indian Railways seeking a significant expansion of train services.

District Collector Arjun Pandian has submitted a comprehensive proposal to Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Madhukar Rauthar, outlining critical demands for better rail connectivity.

The centrepiece of the proposal is the extension of 18 train services that currently terminate at nearby hubs, including Kannur, Mangaluru Central, and Mangaluru Junction. The district administration argues that extending these services to Kasaragod would significantly alleviate the daily hardships faced by interstate and regional commuters.

In addition to extending train routes, the official memorandum urges the railway division to:

• Grant stoppages for major superfast trains at Kasaragod station.
• Revive discontinued passenger trains that previously served as a lifeline for local commuters.

Acknowledging potential operational challenges, Collector Pandian emphasised that the district administration is fully prepared to collaborate with the railway authorities. The administration has offered complete cooperation to hold joint discussions to identify and resolve any technical or logistical hurdles in implementing these proposals.

If approved, the expansion is expected to drastically improve the transport infrastructure of Kerala's northernmost district, offering much-needed relief to thousands of daily passengers.