Train shortage worsenstravel woes in north Kerala as Onam rush looms
Passengers in north Kerala are facing severe travel disruptions due to a shortage of trains and overcrowding, particularly ahead of the Onam festival. Local MPs and passenger associations are calling for increased services and better infrastructure to address regional imbalances in railway allocation.
Why it matters
The issue highlights infrastructure gaps and regional disparities in public transport, which significantly impact the daily lives of commuters and students.
Long intervals between trains, overcrowding and inadequate services on the Malabar railway corridor have made travel difficult for passengers, with the rush expected to increase during Onam. Despite mounting protests and repeated demands from passenger organisations and MPs, calls for additional services to north Kerala have gone unheeded.
“The shortage is particularly visible on the Kozhikode-Kannur-Mangaluru route. During peak travel hours, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., passengers are forced to depend on other means of transport,” says P. Muraleedharan, a hospital employee from Pattuvam who frequently travels between Kozhikode and Kannur. He says overcrowded trains are inaccessible to many students, elderly people and patients who travel to Kozhikode from distant places.
The demand for a new daily intercity express between Mangaluru and Coimbatore has also remained unaddressed. According to various passenger associations, the delay in sanctioning the service is attributed to pending construction works along the route.
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