Thiruvananthapuram: Passengers have been demanding more MEMU services in some of the state's busiest routes as more people depend on trains due to highway constructions and high bus fares these days. However, the lack of proper facilities to handle more trains in the MEMU shed has become a major challenge. Meanwhile, passengers have urged authorities to allow more MEMU services on the coastal routes. The Kollam – Ernakulam MEMU service that was flagged off recently runs completely packed, as passengers complain that the eight-coached train is not enough to handle the crowds during the busy hours in the morning. The train was full even before it reached Mavelikkara on the first day. Although it is possible to operate a MEMU with up to sixteen coaches, the MEMU shed at Kollam, where the maintenance works are carried out, cannot accommodate more coaches.
Even though a contract worth Rs 42 crore has been approved for MEMU shed development, the Kollam municipality has stalled the project, citing ownership of railway land. Moreover, the state government, which is supposed to make the land available and ensure better-travelling facilities for the people in the state, isn't showing the expected interest in intervening. Meanwhile, NK Premachandran MP stated that an urgent meeting involving the railway and the municipality would be convened to solve the dispute. The MP added that he had tried really hard to acquire the Rs 42 crore project.
The eight-coached MEMU can accommodate up to 800 passengers. Meanwhile, around 1600 passengers can travel if the number of coaches is raised to 16. So, it is necessary to have proper maintenance facilities for 16 coaches MEMU in Kerala. Besides, the Vande Metro trains that will be launched by the railways have 16 coaches. There is a severe shortage of workers at the shed in Kollam due to a lack of developmental activities. There are only 32 employees here when the actual requirement is 54 workers. The one at Kollam is the only MEMU shed in the Thiruvananthapuram division.
