Railway development: M.K. Raghavan meets DRM, seeks faster implementation of projects

M.K. Raghavan, MP, sought the time-bound implementation of various railway development projects and measures to address passenger concerns during a meeting with Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Madhukar Rauth.

The delay in the redevelopment of the Kozhikode railway station was among the issues raised by Mr. Raghavan during the meeting on Wednesday (September 9, 2026). In view of repeated lapses on the part of the contractor, the Railways have decided to terminate the contract and entrust the work to a new agency, he said.

In the light of the discussions initiated by the MP, the division will also take steps to introduce additional MEMU services on the Mangaluru-Palakkad route and expedite the allocation of five MEMU rakes sought from the Chennai headquarters for the Palakkad shed. The possibility of introducing a new daily Vande Bharat sleeper or express service from north Malabar to Bengaluru via Palakkad will also be taken up with the Railway Board.

According to Mr. Raghavan, the division will soon approach the Railway Board seeking the extension of the Goa-Mangaluru Vande Bharat service to Kozhikode, considering the relatively low passenger patronage for the existing service. It will also seek approval for a pit line capable of maintaining 24-coach trains to address operational difficulties arising from the transfer of the Mangaluru section to the South Western Railway.

It was decided to expedite final approvals and construction of road overbridges and road underbridges at P.T. Usha Road, Panicker Road, and West Hill Chungam. The demand for stoppages for major trains at Feroke and Kadalundi will also be actively considered. This will be in addition to efforts to address issues faced by railway employees in the division.

A team of officials led by the DRM will visit Kallayi, Kadalundi, and Feroke to examine local issues. They include the demand for a limited-use subway at Kallayi to ease public inconvenience, permission for restoration of a road passing through railway land at Kadalundi, and the proposal to lease railway land at Feroke to the municipality for development activities.

Mr. Raghavan said he would make strong interventions at the Railway Board level to expedite decisions on matters requiring its approval. Senior divisional engineer (coordination) Mohammed Islam and assistant executive engineer (construction) Habeeb Rahman were among those who attended the meeting.