Restore Train No. 16348 Stoppage at Karunagappally Railway Station (KPY) Without Further Delay

To: The Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India

Subject: Urgent Intervention Requested to Restore Train No. 16348 Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Express Stoppage at Karunagappally Railway Station

Our Appeal on Behalf of the People of Karunagappally Taluk

We, the people of Karunagappally Taluk in Kollam district, Kerala, representing the interests of approximately 5 lakh people in the region, humbly appeal to the Railway Board to intervene urgently and facilitate the restoration of the stoppage of Train No. 16348 – Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Express at Karunagappally Railway Station (KPY).

Karunagappally Railway Station is an important transportation hub serving residents of Karunagappally and neighbouring areas. The station caters to students, working professionals, patients, senior citizens, women, families and pilgrims who depend on railway connectivity for their daily and long-distance travel.

The continued absence of a stoppage for Train No. 16348 causes considerable inconvenience to passengers, particularly those travelling between North Kerala and Karunagappally. Despite repeated representations to the Ministry of Railways, this genuine public demand remains unresolved. We therefore seek the Railway Board's direct intervention to ensure an early and favourable decision.

1. Repeated Representations by the Hon'ble Member of Parliament

The Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Shri K. C. Venugopal, has submitted repeated representations to the Ministry of Railways requesting the restoration of Train No. 16348's stoppage at Karunagappally.

In response to the MP's letter dated 5 August 2026, the Hon'ble Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, issued a letter dated 8 August 2026, stating that the matter had been sent for examination and that further necessary action would be taken after examination.

While we appreciate the acknowledgement and the assurance that the matter would be examined, no subsequent decision or substantive update has been communicated to us, even after two months.

We respectfully submit that a matter which has already received the attention of the Hon'ble MP and the Railway Ministry should not remain pending indefinitely. The people of Karunagappally deserve a clear and timely decision on this long-standing demand.

We therefore humbly request the Chairman and the Railway Board to intervene directly, ascertain the current status of the examination, and direct the concerned authorities to complete the process on priority.

2. Disparity in Providing Stoppages: Karunagappally Continues to Be Overlooked

It is a matter of serious concern that Train No. 16348 has a stoppage at Mayyanad, a halt station, while Karunagappally, which is understood to be an NSG-4 category station, continues to be denied a stoppage.Stoppage for this train has been restored at Mavelikara, a station with comparatively lower annual revenue (just ₹8 crore) and passenger footfall (only 16 lakh passengers).

Karunagappally is an important station serving a large population across the taluk and neighbouring areas. Its passenger traffic, revenue contribution and regional significance warrant due consideration when decisions on train stoppages are made.

We are not questioning the need for a stoppage at Mayyanad or seeking to deprive passengers at any other station of their facilities. Our concern is that Karunagappally should also receive fair and objective consideration based on its passenger demand, revenue, regional importance and public convenience.

We therefore request the Railway Board to examine the criteria applied in granting stoppages to comparable stations and explain why Karunagappally continues to be excluded. We further request that the case for restoration be reconsidered objectively and on its merits.

3. Severe Hardship Faced by Passengers from North Kerala

One of the strongest reasons for restoring this stoppage is the genuine hardship experienced by passengers travelling from Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod and other parts of North Kerala.

Hundreds of passengers travelling to Karunagappally and surrounding areas face difficulties because Train No. 16348 does not stop at Karunagappally. Many passengers, including a significant number of women, are forced to alight at Kayamkulam during the late-night or midnight hours and wait for several hours to board the Amrita Express to reach Karunagappally.

This involves an avoidable transfer, prolonged waiting at night and additional physical and mental strain after an already lengthy journey.

The hardship is particularly concerning for:

• Women travelling alone: Midnight transfers and prolonged waiting create understandable concerns about personal safety and comfort.
• Senior citizens and families: Changing trains during late-night hours is physically demanding, particularly for elderly passengers and those travelling with children.
• Patients and people with medical needs: Unnecessary waiting and additional travel can be particularly difficult for passengers travelling for healthcare.
• Students and working professionals: Inconvenient arrival times and extended journeys affect their ability to reach their destinations safely and on time.

Restoring the stoppage at Karunagappally would provide a more direct and convenient travel option for these passengers, reduce unnecessary transfers and waiting, and improve the overall safety and comfort of their journeys.

This is not merely a request for convenience. It is a genuine public-interest issue involving accessibility, passenger welfare and the practical difficulties faced by people travelling long distances.

4. Karunagappally Railway Station Serves Approximately 5 Lakh People

Karunagappally is a major population centre in Kollam district, serving approximately 5 lakh people across Karunagappally Taluk, including residents of surrounding localities who depend on the station for rail connectivity.

The station supports travel for education, employment, business, healthcare, religious visits and family commitments. Its importance extends beyond the town itself, as passengers from neighbouring areas also rely on Karunagappally as a convenient boarding and alighting point.

The demand for the restoration of Train No. 16348's stoppage should therefore be assessed in the context of the wider population served by the station, rather than solely on the basis of the population immediately surrounding it.

A stoppage would improve connectivity for the entire region and help reduce the need for passengers to travel to other stations to complete their journeys.

5. Significant Passenger Traffic and Revenue Contribution

Karunagappally Railway Station has a substantial passenger base and makes a meaningful contribution to railway revenue. Earlier representations have cited approximately 48 lakh annual passengers and annual revenue exceeding ₹13 crore.

These figures, subject to confirmation from the latest official railway records, demonstrate the station's importance to the travelling public and strengthen the case for a detailed review of its train connectivity.

We request the Railway Board to consider the latest available passenger statistics, revenue figures, boarding and alighting patterns, and the travel requirements of the population served by Karunagappally when evaluating this request.

We believe that the restoration of the stoppage deserves a fair and evidence-based assessment in light of the station's usage and regional importance.

6. A Practical and Meaningful Improvement in Regional Connectivity

The restoration of Train No. 16348's stoppage would provide an important additional travel option for people moving between North Kerala and Karunagappally.

It would benefit passengers who currently face inconvenient transfers, reduce dependence on alternative stations, and make rail travel more practical for people from the surrounding region.

The requested stoppage would also complement the existing railway network by improving access to Karunagappally without requiring passengers to undertake unnecessary additional journeys.

We respectfully request the railway authorities to assess the operational feasibility of restoring the stoppage and identify an appropriate solution that addresses both railway operating requirements and the genuine needs of the travelling public.

7. Our Specific Requests to the Railway Board

In view of the repeated representations, the Ministry's earlier communication and the continuing hardships faced by passengers, we earnestly request the Railway Board to:

1. Intervene urgently and expedite the examination of the request to restore Train No. 16348's stoppage at Karunagappally Railway Station.
2. Direct the concerned departments and operating authorities of Southern Railway to examine the matter on priority and submit their recommendations without further delay.
3. Review the disparity in stoppages, including the existing stoppage at Mayyanad, and assess Karunagappally's eligibility based on objective criteria, passenger demand, revenue and regional importance.
4. Give due consideration to passenger safety and convenience, particularly the difficulties faced by women, senior citizens, families and passengers travelling from North Kerala who must undertake late-night transfers at Kayamkulam.
5. Verify the latest passenger and revenue data for Karunagappally and include these factors in the assessment of the request.
6. Ensure continuous coordination and follow-up between the appropriate sections of the Railway Board and Southern Railway until the matter reaches a decision.
7. Facilitate the restoration of the stoppage at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to the necessary operational assessment and approvals.
8. Communicate the outcome of the examination and the action taken to address this long-standing public demand.

8. Our Collective Appeal

This petition is a collective appeal by the people of Karunagappally Taluk and the wider travelling public who depend on Karunagappally Railway Station.

We acknowledge the efforts already made by the Hon'ble Member of Parliament and appreciate the Ministry of Railways for acknowledging the representation and referring the matter for examination. However, the absence of a subsequent decision after two months has left the public waiting for a resolution.

We respectfully appeal to the Chairman and the Railway Board not to allow this genuine demand to remain pending any longer. We request your direct intervention, appropriate directions to the concerned departments, and continuous follow-up to ensure that the matter is resolved at the earliest.

We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for fair consideration, equitable railway connectivity and relief from the genuine hardships faced by thousands of passengers.

The restoration of Train No. 16348's stoppage at Karunagappally would be a meaningful improvement for approximately 5 lakh people in the region and, in particular, for passengers travelling from North Kerala who currently face difficult late-night transfers.

We sincerely hope that the Railway Board will give this matter the urgent attention it deserves and facilitate a favourable decision at the earliest possible opportunity.