Demand for better rail connectivity to Kanyakumari

People of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu have demanded better rail connectivity to the State capital and rest of the country.

Most areas of the district were part of the erstwhile Travancore State and were merged with Tamil Nadu in 1956 following a struggle spearheaded by local leader Marshal Nesamony.

The district has the highest literacy level in the State, but has witnessed little development since independence.

According to D Peter, Chairman, Kanyakumari Institute of Development Studies (KIDS), people from the district who work in different parts of the country depend on the railways for travelling to their hometown.

“But unfortunately trains touching Kanyakumari and (the neighboring) Tirunelveli district from other states are limited in number,” he says.

He says it would be helpful if the Tiruchirapalli – Tirunelveli intercity express, and the Mangalore–Trivandrum Maveli Express, are extended up to Nagercoil and Kanyakumari respectively.

He suggests that the Kanyakumari – Puducherry train could be operated daily – it is a weekly service now – and a Nagercoil – Chennai Central fully AC daily super fast train service can be introduced for benefit of passengers from the district.

Similarly, demand for the Kanyakumari – Madurai railway line doubling work has been made by B Bensujin, secretary, Kanyakumari District NRI Welfare Association, Nizwa, Oman. – TWL Bureau