Kollam: The tourism sector of Kollam is likely to get a major advantage when the NaMo Bharat Rapid Rail trains (Vande Bharat metro) are flagged off in Kerala, reports Manorama Online. The railway authorities vow that these trains would boost the district's tourism prospects, boasting dense forests, serene backwaters, mighty mountains and beautiful coasts. As per the list published by the Ministry of Railway, around ten NaMo trains will be launched in Kerala. Out of them, two trains are scheduled to start from Kollam, while two others pass through the district. Kollam – Thrissur and Kollam – Thirunelveli trains start from Kollam junction.
Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram—Ernakulam and Guruvayur—Madurai trains stop at Kollam. Besides, the Kollam—Thrissur train might even be extended to Guruvayur. The Kollam—Tirunelveli train and Guruvayur—Madurai train that depart from Kollam stop at Kottarakkara, Punalur, Thenmala, and Aryankavu, among others. Passengers in these two trains could enjoy the scintillating beauty of the Kollam—Sengottai route, which was developed by the British. The old railway tunnels and the mesmerizing greenery between Punalur and Aryankavu are sure to excite tourists. Those who wish to visit tourist spots like the Thenmala Dam, Palaruvi Waterfalls, and Rosemala could also rely on these trains.
What else needs to be done?
The NaMo Bharat trains do not stop at the smaller stations, apparently due to a shortage of facilities there. Tourism in the Thenmala and Aryankavu regions could benefit only if these trains stopped at smaller stations like Thenmala. Currently, only the passenger trains and MEMU operating on the Sengottai route stop at small stations. Regional tourism development is possible only if NaMo Bharat trains are allowed to stop at small stations.
Munro Island in the Kollam – Kayamkulam route is another region with great scope for tourism development. Hundreds of tourists, including foreigners, reach the island to enjoy its unique beauty. It is assumed that more tourists would arrive here if NaMo Bharat trains were allowed to stop at Munro Island station. The NaMo Bharat trains, like the metro trains, are equipped with cutting-edge technology, which helps them start swiftly and have amazing breaking facilities, too.
The service of these trains wouldn’t be affected even if they were stopped at small stations. The district's highlights are the beauty of the Ashtamudi, Shasthamkotta and Paravoor lakes and the fabulous beaches. The district's tourism could hugely benefit if the people’s representatives take the initiative to allow stops for these trains at the small stations. NaMo Bharat, a semi–high–speed rail service, is designed to connect cities within a 100 - 250 km radius. The first train in this category started operating in the Bhuj – Ahmedabad route in Gujarat from September 17 onwards.