The demand for increased railway connectivity between North Kerala and Coastal Karnataka has gained momentum, while the Association for Passengers in the Caragod demanded that the proposal be introduced without awarding the orders of new counts.
The Association called for reassessment of terminated services and the optimal use of existing RAKES MEMU to deal with long -term travel gaps.
The President of the Association R. Prasanth said that the unprofitability cited for the withdrawal of the Byndoor-Kasaragod-Kannur passenger train was caused by his “unscientific and uncomfortable schedule”. According to him, no efforts to settle timing were made to meet the local requirements. He called the missed opportunity that must be revised.
One of the proposals includes strategic expansion and clubing of existing MEM services, integrates the Madgaon-lead-manGaluru with Kannur-Ehoranur Memu. The proposed result is the daily Memu service from Kannura to Mangalur, leaving at 11 am and reaching the mangalur until 14:00, along with a separate MEM from the Central Mangalur to Kannur, departing at 11:30 and Complete to Kannura until 14:30 from 2.30 pm
“This route will not only relieve travel, but also help the railway increase revenue without investing in another blind,” said Naser Cherkalam, Secretary of the Association. He pointed out that the idle mem of Rake from Shoranur, which currently remains in Kannura for almost nine hours, could be effectively used for this service.
It is also expected that the proposed service will offer a major additional connectivity from Kannura to the main services, including Ernaculam Intercity Express, Shoranur Passenger and Vande Bharat Express. In addition, the route has the potential to serve pilgrims from all over the kerala heading to the temple of the Mookambika in Kolruh in Karnataka.
The proposal of the association was submitted to the Ministry of Railways, while the parties involved demanded its immediate implementation. “Thousands are waiting for a practical solution, not just promises. We hope that this proposal will be paid to the attention it deserves,” said Nizar Peruvad, connector of the association.
This question was also emphasized at the meeting of the District Development Committee (DDC), chaired by the district collector K. Inbasekar. M. Rajagopal, MLA and other leaders have shifted a formal solution that required an expansion of the MEM service to the mangalur.
“Currently, Kannur and Mangalur are currently connected by one passenger train. Hundreds that rely on it daily have been relying on the recent decrease in the number of coaches from 14 to 11,” DDC said.
Published – 3rd August 2025 17:58
