Thrissur: A total of 912 passengers embark upon the first Ayodhya-bound train service from Kerala's Kochuveli. The train started its journey at 10 am after a low-key programme conducted at the Kochuveli railway station, organised by Thiruvananthapuram-based BJP leaders. From Kochuveli, 100 passengers boarded the train. The maximum ticket rate collected from the passengers is Rs 3,700 per person. The ticket rate includes a to-and-fro journey, food, and accommodation for six days.
The railway authorities had announced that the bookings for the special service to Ayodhya will be efficiently handled by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). However, passengers who were waiting for the train told the media that they booked their tickets with the help of BJP leaders in their respective localities. Authorities had earlier announced that the particulars of the Ayodhya-bound special services would not be made available in the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) due to security considerations.
