Lok Sabha Question No. 4268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Stoppage for Venad Express at Vaikom Road Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4268

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## STOPPAGE FOR VENAD EXPRESS AT VAIKOM ROAD RAILWAY STATION

## 4268. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received a representation from the Vaikom Road Users Forum regarding the sanctioning of a stoppage for the Venad Express (16301/02) at Vaikom Road Railway Station (VARD) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that Sixty-two percent of the station's revenue is generated from reserved ticket sales despite the lack of a functioning reservation counter and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has evaluated the strategic importance of this station  which  serves  major  pilgrimage  centres  such  as  the  Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and educational hubs like IIIT Kottayam and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to sanction a one-minute halt  for  the  Venad  Express  to  accommodate  the  needs  of  students, employees and pilgrims in the region?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d) To facilitate the passengers, stoppage of 16649/16650 Mangalore Central - Kanniyakumari Express has been provided at Vaikom Road station w.e.f.  01.11.2025.  Accordingly,  Vaikom  Road  station  is  presently  being served by following 19 train services:

|   Sl. | Train No. and Name                                   |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------|
|     1 | 12625 Thiruvananthapuram Central - New Delhi Express |

|   2 | 12626 New Delhi - Thiruvananthapuram Central Express   |
|-----|--------------------------------------------------------|
|   3 | 16325 Nilambur Road - Kottayam Express                 |
|   4 | 16326 Kottayam - Nilambur Road Express                 |
|   5 | 16327 Madurai - Guruvayur Express                      |
|   6 | 16328 Guruvayur - Madurai Express                      |
|   7 | 16649 Mangalore Central - Kanniyakumari Express        |
|   8 | 16650 Kanniyakumari - Mangalore Central Express        |
|   9 | 16791 Tuticorin - Palakkad Express                     |
|  10 | 16792 Palakkad - Tuticorin Express                     |
|  11 | 56005 Ernakulam - Kottayam Passenger                   |
|  12 | 56006 Kottayam - Ernakulam Passenger                   |
|  13 | 66303 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU                          |
|  14 | 66304 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU                          |
|  15 | 66307 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU                          |
|  16 | 66308 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU                          |
|  17 | 66310 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU                          |
|  18 | 66321 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU                          |
|  19 | 66322 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU                          |

Moreover,  proposals/  requests/  suggestions/  representations,  both  formal and informal inter alia for provision of stoppage of trains are received from Members  of  Parliament,  elected  representatives,  organizations/rail  users etc.  at  various  levels  including  Railway  Board,  Zonal  Railways,  Divisional Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/ requests/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time, which is an on-going process.

Besides,  provision  of  stoppages  of  train  services,  which  is  an  on-going process, depends on the traffic justification, operational feasibility including availability of extra time on the section & availability of matching infrastructure such as Platform length etc.

## Reservation Counter:

Vaikom Road (VARD) is a Station Ticket Booking Agent (STBA) operated NSG6 station in Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railway. The nearest PRS Centre is at Piravom Road (PVRD) station, located at a distance of 6 Km from VARD.

At present more than 87% reserved tickets are issued online which provides an  option  to  get  railway  reservation  tickets  from  anywhere,  anytime. Moreover,  Railways  has  launched  RailOne  App  on  01.07.2025.  This  App enables  passengers  to  book  reserved  as  well  as  unreserved  tickets  on mobile  phone.  This,  in  effect,  brings  the  Passenger  reservation  system facility to passenger's palm.

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