Kozhikode: Mangaluru Central-Nagercoil Parasuram Express is one of the major transport modes hundreds of daily commuters in Malabar depend.
But the dwindling number of general coaches is a matter of concern for them.
Of its 21 coaches, there were 15 general coaches earlier. But now it has gone down to 12 with three getting converted as D-Reservation coaches.
On Thursday, the Parasuram Express reached Kozhikode with only nine general coaches, angering passengers.
“This is too much to tolerate. All ‘conversions’ are at the cost of general coaches. Many a time, one or two of the limited number of general coaches would be allotted to army persons. Then it would be a harrowing journey for us,” fumed K. Remya, a teacher who travels on the Kozhikode-Tirur route daily.
On Wednesday, passengers protested for the same reason at Kozhikode railway station under the banner of Malabar Train Passengers’ Forum (MTPF).
“The cut short general coaches of Parasuram Express should be restored soon. It is the major train commuters depend on morning and evening. Railway authorities’ lackadaisical attitude will push the passengers to an agitation,” said MTPF vice-president P.K.C. Faisal.
