Memu rakes yet to reach Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two rakes which were  meant for memu services in the state have not arrived so far. These rakes, which  were sent from Kapurthala railway coach factory to Avadi memu shed for transportation to the state, have remained  at the shed for the last four months, according to   Mr   K.J. Paul Manvattom, president,  All-Kerala Railway Users Association. He   told Deccan Chronicle that the state government and MPs  should intervene in the issue and urge Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to bring the  rakes  to the state. 

The central government decision to provide Rs 17 crore for the development of Palakkad memu shed should be appreciated. However, steps should  also be taken  to ensure periodic overhaul (POH) facility at Palakkad memu shed. There is enough space and facility near the Palakkad memu shed for the same, said Mr Manvattom. At present, rakes are sent to the Avadi memu shed resulting in huge delay in the return of the rakes and also unnecessary expenses,  he said.

Each  railway coach  undergoes POH every 12 months.  The dates when  POH was done and the scheduled date of return for the next overhaul are marked at the back of the coach. He demanded steps to operate the memu services on  all the seven days of the week against the present six.   The frequency cannot be increased with the current  eight rakes.  “However, memu services are very useful as they stop at all  stations,” said Mr Manvattom. He also demanded that new memu services should be allotted on Palakkad-Kozhikode, Palakkad- Kannur  and Palakkad-Mangalore sections. The doubling works of the Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam line should be completed on a priority basis,  he added.