These are minor stops where local trains briefly halt, generally providing only essential facilities for passengers. In a Facebook post, Chandrasekhar expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Vaishnaw for this decision. “Thankful for addressing our request and acting promptly!” he stated, remarking that he had earlier consulted with the Railway Minister, “acknowledging the importance of these railway stations for local communities.”
Previously, Kerala’s Minister in charge of Railways, V Abdurahiman, urged the Centre to retract its decision to shut down two railway stations located in Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Abdurahiman sent a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighting the state’s appeal regarding this matter, according to an official statement.
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In the correspondence to Vaishnav, it was emphasized that closing these stations would lead to difficulties for hundreds of ordinary passengers. “Hundreds of individuals, including employees, workers, and students, who have depended on these long-established stations, would face a crisis,” he articulated on Wednesday.
Many trains that once halted at these stations are currently running non-stop due to decreased traffic during Covid. The closure initiative is part of the central government’s policy to privatize railways and disregard Kerala, he claimed.
Denouncing the closure decision, the minister also suggested in the letter that these stations should remain operational, and more train stops should be permitted there.
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The decision follows public outcry over the initial plan to close the stations. On Wednesday, Kerala’s Railways Minister, V Abdurahiman, communicated with the Railway Minister, urging the Centre to reconsider its stance on the closures. In his letter, Abdurahiman cautioned that closing the stations would impose hardships on countless regular passengers.
He underscored that numerous workers, employees, and students have depended on these longstanding stations for their daily journeys. “Many individuals, encompassing employees, workers, and students who have relied on these decades-old stations, would find themselves in a difficult position,” he said.
The reversal has been received positively by both state officials and residents, with many perceiving it as a vital intervention to sustain connectivity for smaller communities in the area.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
