THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The inaugural run of Kochuveli-Banaswadi Humsafar Express from the Kochuveli railway station on Saturday witnessed political tussle between Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor and Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam. Tharoor walked out of the inaugural ceremony alleging violation of norms governing such functions.
The biweekly Humsafar Express was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam in the presence of Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, A Sampath MP, O Rajagopal MLA and ward councillor of Karikkakom Hima Siji.
Prior to the inaugural function, UDF members held a protest outside the station for excluding Shashi Tharoor’s name from the advertisement of the flag off of a train. “Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had sent me a letter in acceptance to my request for such a train. Being the MP of this constituency, not inviting me for such a function shows their narrow-minded politics,” Tharoor said.
Denying the allegations raised by the MP, Kannanthanam said: “The train was launched after my request to the Railway Minister to fulfil the transport requirement of people travelling between Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru.”
Chennithala flays Rlys for sidelining Tharoor
T’Puram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has registered a protest against the Railways for not giving due priority to Shashi Tharoor MP in the flag off event of Humsafar Express. “Shashi Tharoor has not been given any consideration as an MP of the constituency based on the protocol, and his name was listed at the bottom of the invitation card. At the same time, though the event was organised in Tharoor’s constituency, Attingal MP A Sampath was given more consideration by the Railways. When Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, the BJP has been playing dirty politics in this issue,” Chennithala said. He said, “Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam’s statement on receiving a letter from the Railway Minister regarding this matter has been mentioned with a political motive.
Humsafar Express
Train No.16319 Kochuveli – Banaswadi Humsafar Express will leave Kochuveli at 6.05 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays to reach Banaswadi at 10.45 am on Fridays and Sundays.
During the return journey the train will leave Banaswadi at 7 pm on Fridays and Sundays to reach Kochuveli at 9.05 am on Saturdays and Mondays.
The train will stop at 12 stations - Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Bangarapet, Whitefield and Krishnarajapuram.
The trains will have AC three-tier coaches with fire detection system and CCTV cameras in each coach.
GPS–based information display board, comfortable seats and passenger announcement system will also be available.
The regular service of Humsafar Express will commence from Banaswadi on Sunday and the regular service will commence from Kochuveli on October 25.