THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vande Bharat received a rousing reception from people in Chengannur after railway allowed a station in this small town within Alappuzha district. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan also reached the station as an official representative of the central government. The minister promised to allay all ensuing tensions about Vande Bharat trains running late and reorganizing the passenger train schedules, much to the distress of everyday passengers scuttling for work.

Once the new timetable comes, the problems will be solved. However, Minister Muraleedharan was not ready to give an exact day for implementing this rule. The railway timetable is usually updated every six months. The timetable was finally released last August.

The Ministry of Railways issued an order last day allowing a stop at Chengannur for the Kasaragod - Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express. V Muraleedharan drew the attention of the Union Railway Minister to the proposal put forward by the Alappuzha BJP unit to allow the stop.

The minister convinced the union railway minister Ashwini Vaishanaw about the perks of allowing a station at Chengannur, as this would cut short the arduous journey of many Ayyappa devotees heading straight to the holy hills of Sabarimala. At the same time, the timing of Vande Bharat was also changed in the wake of Chengannur getting a new stop.

Vande Bharat’s departure from Thiruvananthapuram will be five minutes earlier from tomorrow. Vande Bharat, which was currently departing at 5:20 am, will start service at 5:15 am.