Kochi: The path has finally been cleared for rechristening of Kochuveli and Nemom stations in Thiruvananthapuram division similar to the renaming of the Chennai Central railway station.
The divisional railway authorities have given the nod for changing the name of Kochuveli as ‘Thiruvananthapuram North’ and Nemom as ‘Thiruvananthapuram South’, a long pending demand of commuters.
Now just a procedural process is pending, that of the state transport department demanding sending a request letter for the same to the ministry of home affairs.
“The railways only stand to benefit by the move,” said a senior railway official.
“Now many commuters, not familiar with the terrain, are not availing trains upto Kochuveli, resulting in the trains running with vacant seats. Upon rechristening, passengers to Thiruvananthapuram Central will start boarding such trains. We have conveyed of our willingness to the state government which should now make a formal request to the Centre.”
Similarly, the railways intend to extend many train services to Nemom, once it is developed as a terminal station. The project has been approved and the foundation stone laid and is waiting for adequate funding by the Centre.
Senior BJP leader and MLA O. Rajagopal had taken up the renaming issue before the state government which approved of the matter without objections.
“The procedure is that the state government makes the request to the MHA which will forward the same to the railway board. The board will implement the change with immediate effect,” the official said.
Recently the name of Chennai Central railway station was rechristened as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station after the ministry approved of the Tamil Nadu government’s request.
“The move will benefit passengers, especially those from other states. The railways assured us in a recent Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee meet that the demand will be considered on an urgent basis,” said Paul K. J. Manvettom, president of the All Kerala Rail Users Association, and a DRUCC member.
