THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The 72nd Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee(DRUCC) meeting of Thiruvananthapuram division was convened today, 27th December 2018 at Divisional Railway Manager’s Office, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.
Thirteen out of Twenty Six sitting members of DRUCC members from various fields representing Passenger Associations, Consumer Organisations, Chamber of Commerce, Persons nominated to represent Agricultural interest, Nominees of MPs etc participated in the meeting. The members evinced keen interest in the deliberations.
Shirish Kumar Sinha IRSEE, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division in his presidential speech informed that till date the division has achieved complete track renewal of 80 Km simultaneously improving punctuality performance in the last two months. To improve passenger experience, conventional ICF rakes are upgraded to modern LHB coaches. Upgradation of 12625 Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi Kerala Express into LHB coach is in process and the fourth rake will be introduced on 28th December 2018. A classy new Utkrisht rake has been introduced for 22633 Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Weekly Express on 26th December 2018.
Dr. Rajesh Chandran, Sr.Divisional Commercial Manager, Thiruvananthapuram division and Secretary of DRUCC presented the recent initiatives taken by the division focussing passenger amenities and infrastructure development. Completion of doubling between Chingavanam-Changanassery is expected to increase the punctuality of trains in Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam section. The Rail Partner App developed by Southern Railway, has been attracting lots of users for its ease of handling and accuracy. Additional Three Hundred and Twenty Five(325) special trains are being operated during the Sabarimala Mandala Makaravilakku season for the benefit of pilgrim passengers.
DRUCC members represented various issues pertaining to early completion of ongoing projects, introduction of trains, additional stoppages and provision of improved amenities for passengers, to mention a few. They sought the intervention of Southern Railway Administration and Railway Board in renaming Kochuveli and Nemam stations as Thiruvananthapuram North and Thiruvananthapuram South stations respectively. DRUCC appreciated the efforts taken by the division in implementing cleanliness and healthy atmosphere at stations and the RPF’s achievements in identifying and prosecuting culprits involved in stone pelting on trains.
P Jayakumar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram division and other branch officers attended the meeting.