Kerala Minister urges Centre to revoke decision to close 2 railway stations

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Minister in charge of Railways, V Abdurahiman, has called on the Central government to reverse its decision to shut down two railway stations located in Kozhikode and Kannur districts.

According to an official statement, Abdurahiman conveyed the state's appeal in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The stations that have been decided to be closed down by the Centre are Vellarkad in Kozhikode district and Chirakkal in Kannur district.

In the letter to Vaishnav, it was pointed out that if these stations were closed down, hundreds of ordinary passengers would face difficulties.

Hundreds of people, including employees, workers, and students who have relied on these years-old stations, would be in crisis, he said on Wednesday.

Many trains that previously stopped at these stations are now running non-stop due to reduced traffic during Covid.

The closure move is part of the central policy to privatise railways and neglect towards Kerala, he alleged.

Stating that the decision to close down two railway stations is condemnable, the minister also said in the letter that it should be retained as such and more stops for trains should be allowed there.

With PTI inputs