Demand to hike Poorna Express frequency

The PMF observed that after the introduction of Konkan Railway,of 18 Kerala bound trains running through Pune route,17 were diverted through Konkan. “The only train left out was Bombay-Kanyakumari Jayanti Janata Express,which has also got only limited seats and it comes packed from Mumbai,” he said.

“After persistent efforts of Pune Malayalee Federation,the then Railway Minster O Rajagopal had started Poorna Express from Pune to Ernakulam on a weekly basis and also promised to extend the frequency. This had brought some relief to travel problems of 4.5 lakh Malayalees in and around Pune district and more than a lakh tourists and businessmen.”

“It is unfortunate that the request of such a large community is being neglected by the railway authorities,” Vijayan said.

Vijayan said the PMF delegation has been pressing the demand with the railway authorities regularly with high level recommendations from MLAs,Suresh Kalmadi,MP,Chief Minister and ministers from Kerala,MPs and ministers from union ministry. “Much before the railway budget preparation,a PMF delegation met Minster of State for Railways E Ahmed and submitted a memorandum. The delegation also met A K Antony,Prof K V Thomas,railway board chairman S S Khurana and handed over memorandum to the Mamta Banerjee.” Vijayan said the Time Table Committee meeting,convened in Orissa,was understood to have cleared the recommendation of the Railway Ministry to increase the service to twice a week. “It will definitely bring much much relief to the Malayalee community in Pune,” he said.