The appalling condition of train services in northern districts and “the insensitivity” of Railway authorities in Palakad division to travellers' complaints came under fire in Lok Sabha on Tuesday when M.K. Raghavan, MP, spoke on the railway appropriation Bill for 2011-12.
While expressing shock at the tardy progress of railway development work in north Kerala, Mr. Raghavan demanded constitution of a committee headed by an MP to monitor the execution of projects to develop facilities at major stations like Kozhikode, a spokesman of the MPs's office here said on Thursday.
Alleging that the attitude of Railway officials of Palakad division reminded him of “colonial Raj,” the MP said in the Lok Sabha: “The entire team of MPs from Malabar region had, cutting across party lines, requested for a change of guard at Palakad division.”
Mr. Raghavan said that the condition of coaches was pathetic. Cockroaches and rats running around was a common sight and toilets were filthy and without water supply most of the time. No effective action had been taken to prevent harassment of women passengers. Coffee and snack vendors had been banned from platforms, rendering them unemployed and causing much inconvenience to passengers, he said.
The MP blamed the Railway authorities also for the tardy progress in rail-track doubling and rail electrification in northern districts and the project to upgrade Kozhikode station to international standards.
He also urged the Railway Minister to announce the dates for commencement of work on the proposed major projects at Palakad and Cherthala.
Mr. Raghavan reminded the Railway Minister that the Guruvayur-Thirunavaya and Kozhikode-Angadipuram rail connectivity; train service to Mysore; the Kozhikode- Beypore port link; and his demand for extension of inter-city day train from Kozhikode to Bangalore still remained on paper.
Mr. Raghavan also wanted Railway authorities to take early action on demands for railway overbridges at Panniyankara and Kadalundi; an underpass at Kadalundi; renovation of the Feroke railway station; and shifting of the existing level-crossing at Elathur.
While expressing shock at the tardy progress of railway development work in north Kerala, Mr. Raghavan demanded constitution of a committee headed by an MP to monitor the execution of projects to develop facilities at major stations like Kozhikode, a spokesman of the MPs's office here said on Thursday.
Alleging that the attitude of Railway officials of Palakad division reminded him of “colonial Raj,” the MP said in the Lok Sabha: “The entire team of MPs from Malabar region had, cutting across party lines, requested for a change of guard at Palakad division.”
Mr. Raghavan said that the condition of coaches was pathetic. Cockroaches and rats running around was a common sight and toilets were filthy and without water supply most of the time. No effective action had been taken to prevent harassment of women passengers. Coffee and snack vendors had been banned from platforms, rendering them unemployed and causing much inconvenience to passengers, he said.
The MP blamed the Railway authorities also for the tardy progress in rail-track doubling and rail electrification in northern districts and the project to upgrade Kozhikode station to international standards.
He also urged the Railway Minister to announce the dates for commencement of work on the proposed major projects at Palakad and Cherthala.
Mr. Raghavan reminded the Railway Minister that the Guruvayur-Thirunavaya and Kozhikode-Angadipuram rail connectivity; train service to Mysore; the Kozhikode- Beypore port link; and his demand for extension of inter-city day train from Kozhikode to Bangalore still remained on paper.
Mr. Raghavan also wanted Railway authorities to take early action on demands for railway overbridges at Panniyankara and Kadalundi; an underpass at Kadalundi; renovation of the Feroke railway station; and shifting of the existing level-crossing at Elathur.
