Demand for a new overnight train between Velankanni-Kochuveli
(Via Thanjavur, Trichy, Tirunelveli, and Nagercoil)
Nagercoil: P. Edward Jeni, Secretary, Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KKDRUA) said in a release to ‘Railway Samachar’ that the Velankanni is fondly known as the ‘Lourdes of the East’, because like Lourdes in France, millions of pilgrims visit the Shrine throughout the year, praying to Our Lady for various needs and thanking her for the favors received through her intercession. Many citizens in southern Tamilnadu and southern Kerala undertake pilgrimages to Velankanni regularly. Moreover, people of Cauvery delta districts are living in the districts of Tirunelveli, Madurai, Virudhungar, Kanniyakumari, and Trivandrum. They also don’t have the night train connectivity to reach their hometowns.
He said We would like to bring to the kind notice of the Railway authorities that Christian population of 8 Lakhs from Kanyakumari District, 6 Lakhs from Trivandrum District and 3 Lakhs from Tirunelveli district periodically visits the Lady of Good Health Shrine at Velankanni throughout the year. Besides Velankanni, they also visit places such as Tirukodiyur, Nagore Dargah, and Thirunallar saneeswaran temple. A new train from Kochuveli to Velankanni and Karaikal via. Trivandrum and Nagercoil may be run for the benefit of people belonging to various religions (Hindu, Christian, and Muslim) which will strengthen religious harmony.
This is the only one major Christian pilgrim’s centers in Tamilnadu. Due to non-availability of a train in this potential route, currently, all pilgrims visiting Velankanni travel with their family and kids through road to mitigate these difficulties of pilgrims to the above Christian places of interest. Church also contributed to the Velankanni railway project. The project was completed in 2010, but So far there is no proper train facility to reach pilgrim. The contribution shows the nil result for the railway project.
Therefore, if at least an overnight express train is operated between Velankanni to Kochuveli via Tirurvarur, Thanjavur, Trichy, Tirunelveli, and Nagercoil daily many people will benefit. We humbly request you to take favorable action in expediting Velankanni to Kochuveli daily train. Kindly have this implemented in the forthcoming railway timetable, Jeni said.