MORE than a decade old demand of the Chhattisgarh based Keralites on extension of 22815/22816 Bilaspur-Ernakulam-Bilaspur Weekly Superfast Express via Raipur and Durg up to Thiruvananthapuram still remain a distant dream.

Once the train is extended up to Thiruvananthapuram, it will give a sigh of relief to the passengers who after 36-hours long journey are compelled to spend whole night at Ernakulam junction for onward journey to reach their destinations. Railway officials in South East Central Railway (SECR) said that the section falls under Southern Railway (SR) jurisdiction and they will take decisions depending upon feasibility of the train operation and necessary action will be taken.

It is to mentioned that Railways introduced the 22815/22816 Bilaspur-Ernakulam-Bilaspur Weekly Superfast Express more than a decade ago in the year 2011 for the benefit of south-bound passengers of Chhattisgarh particularly Keralites working in large numbers in government, public and private sectors. Earlier the Joint Action Council for Chhattisgarh Kerala Travel Facilities took up the issue with Railway administration to extend the train up to Thiruvananthapuram via Kottayam to give relief to the passengers who have to spend whole night at Ernakulam after 36-hours long travel for onward journey to reach their destinations. Besides, this would also benefit the passengers of Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikara and Kollam apart from the pilgrims to Sabarimala. During that time the Railway administration assured to extend the train after doubling the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram section via Kottayam. But even after completion of the doubling of the section, Railway administration is yet to take a firm decision on extension of the train. When the matter was brought to the notice of Senior Public Relations Officer of SECR Santosh Kumar, he said that the section falls under SR jurisdiction and they will take decision on this. He said that depending upon feasibility of the train operation necessary action will be taken by the Railways.