148 Special Trains for Sabarimala Pilgrims; Rs 50 Lakh to Be Spent on Chengannur Station Repairs
Meeting with the Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager
Chengannur: Emergency repair works worth Rs 50 lakh will be carried out at Chengannur Railway Station ahead of the upcoming Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season, MP Kodikunnil Suresh announced. The works aim to ensure safe and convenient travel facilities for Ayyappa devotees arriving at the station.
The repairs, to be undertaken by the Railways, will include road tarring at the station entrance, maintenance of the circulating area, painting of the station building, fixing roof leaks and renovating toilets. All works are expected to be completed before the pilgrimage season begins.
The MP also announced that 148 special trains will be operated during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season to accommodate the increased number of devotees.
Kodikunnil Suresh said the legal obstacles related to the station's redevelopment project have been resolved. He had urged the Railway Board Chairman to complete essential repair works without delay, prioritising pilgrim safety and convenience. The matter was also discussed with the Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager to expedite the necessary arrangements.
A review meeting will be held at Chengannur Railway Station on Saturday, October 17, at 4 PM, with railway authorities and other officials. The meeting will assess the progress of repair works, special train services, crowd management and basic facilities for pilgrims.
The MP assured that efforts would continue to ensure all necessary arrangements are completed on time for a smooth pilgrimage experience.
Meanwhile, preparations for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season are progressing across the state. Road maintenance works have been intensified, while restrictions have been introduced on unauthorised roadside shops, tethering and grazing of cattle along pilgrimage routes, and drone operations in sensitive areas.
With pilgrim numbers increasing over the years, authorities are expected to continue using the Virtual Queue system and other crowd management measures during the upcoming season.