Run more unreserved trains on Kollam-Punalur route, passengers urge rlys

Thiruvananthapuram: Passengers of the Kollam-Punalur route have urged the Railways to operate more unreserved trains for the daily commuters. The Kollam-Sengottai railway passengers association met the Madurai division officers and submitted a petition urging the Railways to run passenger trains frequently between Kollam and Punalur as there are no services for almost nine hours during the day.Dipu Ravi of the association said that the Railways should also introduce a Kollam-Erode train via Palani and resume the Tambaram-Thiruvananthapuram North express train to make the most of the route that was recently electrified. The Railways can operate more MEMU services between Kollam and Punalur, though it may be difficult to extend it along the ghat section to Sengottai.The association has also demanded the Railways advance the arrival time of the Madurai-Punalur Express at Punalur. The ideal time that will be convenient for passengers will be 9.30am as against the current schedule of 10am, he added.Though the route was converted into broad gauge around eight years ago and was electrified recently, the Railways are yet to run adequate number of trains on the route to meet the increased demand for travel between Kollam and Sengottai and Tenkasi.