Kochi: A few days ago, rail passengers staged protests at the Ernakulam North railway station after the Palaruvi Express was halted, longer than scheduled, to allow the Vande Bharat train to pass. Now, experts suggest that such inconvenience and delays could be avoided by taking advantage of the buffer time, reports Manorama Online. It could be done by rescheduling the buffer time allotted to Palaruvi Express in Kollam, Kottayam and Mulanthuruthy stations.
The railways are also trying hard to find a solution by rescheduling the buffer time. Besides, passengers also suggest a MEMU service between Palaruvi and Venad to solve the travel crisis. The train was allotted for additional coaches from today, following passenger demands.
Why the protests Sreejith Kumar, an executive member of Friends on Rail that led the protests, says, “Venad that had been reaching Ernakulam Junction for the last 52 years is now stopped at North station without arranging any alternate measures. This forced the passengers who needed to reach the offices at South to rely on Palaruvi, overcrowding the train. Today, a person fell unconscious in Palaruvi when the train reached Mulanthuruthi.
First aid was given only after moving him to Tripunithura.” Besides operating a MEMU or a passenger train, the passengers say Palaruvi’s halt for allowing Vande Bharat to pass should be at Tripunithura. When the crowded train is halted for up to half an hour at stations like Mulanthuruthy even on scorching summer .