Railway freezes proposal to extend Kollam-Kottayam MEMU to Ernakulam
THE Indian Railway Ministry has temporarily frozen the proposal to extend the Kollam–Kottayam MEMU service to Ernakulam following strong protests from daily commuters and local representatives.
The temporary halt was announced by Mavelikara MP Kodikkunnil Suresh after discussions with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Railway Board Chairman.
The extension (initially routed to leave Kollam at 1:40 PM and Ernakulam at 5:25 PM with stops including Tripunithura, Kanjiramattom, Piravom Road, Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara and Ettumanoor) was originally planned to ease severe evening overcrowding on the Venad Express.
Extending the service meant the train (such as MEMU 66315) would originate from Ernakulam instead of Kottayam at 5:40 PM, completely removing a crucial local evening return link relied upon by students, university staff (including Mahatma Gandhi University employees), and daily office-goers travelling towards Kottayam and Kollam.
Railway authorities have assured commuters that instead of altering the existing MEMU schedule, they will explore alternative measures—including pushing for a new train service on the Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kollam route—to address overcrowding on the Venad Express without disrupting current local runs.
