Latest news with #ThiruvananthapuramDivision
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
RPF organises motorcycle rally in Thiruvananthapuram
As part of the nationwide 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Thiruvananthapuram Division, organised a motorcycle rally on Thursday (August 14). Divyakant Chandrakar, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division, flagged off the rally in the morning from DRM's Office in the presence of Muhammed Haneef, divisional security commissioner, RPF Thiruvananthapuram Division. The rally featured over 30 RPF personnel riding tricolour flag adorned motorcycles, passing through major locations in Thiruvananthapuram city, spreading the message of unity, pride, and patriotism. Lipin Raj M.P., senior divisional personnel officer, along with other divisional officers, supervisors and staff participated in the flag-off ceremony. This initiative has been organised to inspire every citizen to participate actively in the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme, fostering the spirit of national pride ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebrations.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Portable ramps, customised wheelchairs introduced for rail passengers in Thiruvananthapuram Division
In a novel step towards ensuring accessible travel for all, Thiruvananthapuram Division, Southern Railway, in association with NGOs Swarga Foundation, Pallium India, and Care & Share, introduced 'Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers' at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station on Monday. As part of this initiative, portable wheelchair ramps and customised wheelchairs are introduced at railway stations to enhance the travel experience of differently-abled persons and senior citizens. Dr. Manish Thaplyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram inaugurated the facilities in the presence of representatives from the NGOs. As part of the initiative, 15 mobile ramps and 15 customised wheelchairs have been handed over to railways. At stations, the wheelchairs and portable ramps will be placed at the station manager's office at various railway stations in the division for easy access and quick deployment. These wheelchairs are specially designed to facilitate barrier-free movement within station premises and inside coaches. They are designed to offer independence, comfort, and safety to users. The portable ramps enable smooth boarding and alighting of differently-abled passengers using wheelchairs, ensuring safe and hassle-free entry and exit near coach entrances. Ms. Swarnalatha J., managing trustee, Swarga Foundation was present during the function. Senior officers A. Vijuvin, senior divisional operating manager; Lipin Raj M.P., senior divisional personnel officer; and Sunil Kumar, divisional commercial manager, Thiruvananthapuram along with station officials were present during the occasion. Project Sugamya stands as a unique example of how organisations with a shared vision of service can partner with Indian Railways to empower differently-abled individuals, enabling them to travel with dignity, independence, and confidence, said a statement from the Southern Railway.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
Thiruvananthapuram division undertakes passenger-focussed initiatives to improve train travel experience
Riding high on the increasing passenger patronage, the Thiruvananthapuram Division of the Southern Railway is implementing several passenger-focussed initiatives to improve the train travel experience for passengers. According to the railway authorities, to meet growing passenger demand, the division has attached additional coaches to major trains operating under the division. Fur instance, in the last one year alone, between April 2024 and May 2025, nine major express trains received additional coaches, including popular services such as Parasuram and Palaruvi Express, as well as trains serving metropolitan destinations including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore, and important pilgrimage centres like Velankanni, Guruvayur, and Madurai. The Vanchinad Express augmentation is in the pipeline. Increase in seating capacity Further, the number of coaches in seven passenger trains serving daily commuters have been increased from 12 to 14. Vande Bharat train services in the division are operating with more than 150% occupancy, ensuring faster and more comfortable travel with modern amenities. The seating capacity for these trains also witnessed an increase, ranging from 25% to 100%, ensuring accommodation for thousands of additional passengers daily, said the railway. Train 20634/20633 Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat became the first service to receive a 25% additional seating capacity, while its coaches increased from 16 to 20, effective 10 January. Train 20631/20632 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Vande Bharat service experienced the most significant expansion, doubling of coaches from 8 to 16, effective from May 22. Upgradation Major long-distance trains are also being upgraded with modern LHB coaches, along with standardised four general unreserved coaches. These changes have increased seat availability, improved passenger comfort, and resulted in reduced waiting list. The period from December 2024 to May 2025 also witnessed the highest level of temporary augmentation, with 31 train pairs augmented across 1,023 trips to meet peak travel demand. Simultaneously, station upgrade projects have been speeded up to provide modern facilities and better amenities. The division is also prioritising efforts to reduce traffic delays across the railway network, said railways. Apart from the recently upgraded two new Amrit Stations—Chirayinkeezhu and Kulitturai, five additional stations across the division are nearing completion and will soon be inaugurated with state-of-the-art facilities, bringing world-class infrastructure closer to more communities throughout the region. The long-standing issue of platform congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central, which has caused train delays, is being addressed by extending platform number 2. This platform was short as it had the ARME (Accident Relief Medical Equipment) facility and therefore could not accommodate full-length trains, making it unusable during high traffic periods when all the platforms are needed. To improve the operational capacity of Thiruvananthapuram Central station, the ARME facility is being moved to a new location, and Platform No. 2 is getting extended to its full length. Once completed, trains will arrive and depart on time at Thiruvananthapuram Central without delays caused by platform congestion, said the officials.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM holds meetings with MPs, Constituency-wise infrastructure development works reviewed
Passenger amenities, introduction of new trains, additional stops, extensions of existing services and station development were among the issues that were discussed at a meeting organised by the Southern Railway's Thiruvananthapuram Division with MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Friday. The meeting reviewed completed and ongoing Constituency-wise infrastructure development works under the jurisdiction of the Division, the Railway said in a statement. Kerala MPs and the MPs representing Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli constituencies in Tamil Nadu attended the meeting with R.N. Singh, General Manager, Southern Railway. The progress on the construction of new railway lines, extensions of existing train services, doubling and electrification works and construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges also were discussed. Focused efforts are underway to improve railway infrastructure in regions falling under the Thiruvananthapuram Division of the Southern Railway, Railway officials said. Ongoing works in Kerala include station redevelopment at Varkala-Sivagiri, development of the Thiruvananthapuram south station as a coaching terminal and redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central and Neyyattinkara stations. Railway officials noted that Ernakulam is emerging as a major hub with large-scale redevelopment underway at both Ernakulam Town and Junction stations. Other major stations such as Alappuzha and Kayamkulam Junction are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Scheme with lifts, waiting rooms and upgraded roofing. In Tamil Nadu, the redevelopment of key stations such as Nagercoil Junction and Kanyakumari under the Amrit Station Scheme is progressing with escalators, platform shelters, and other modern amenities under implementation, the Railway said. Doubling of the Nagercoil Town-Nagercoil Junction-Kanyakumari line has been completed as part of Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari Doubling project, the Railway said. Kerala MPs Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, Kodikkunnil Suresh, N.K. Premachandran, Shashi Tharoor, K.C. Venugopal, Anto Antony, Adoor Prakash, Hibi Eden, John Brittas and Haris Beeran and Tamil Nadu MPs C. Robert Bruce and Vijay Vasanth attended. Manish Thaplyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division, and principal heads of departments of the Southern Railway also were present.
