KOCHI: Seven halting railway stations under Trivandrum division face closure threat due to poor revenue generation. Chouvara, Kanjiramattam, Kumaranelloor, Veli, Kaduthuruthy, Chottanikkara Road and Kappil halt stations face the closure threat as the daily income from passenger footfall is meagre. Currently, private agencies run the halt stations. As the income is poor, the operators approached the railways expressing willingness to withdraw from running the stations further.Senior railway officials met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on January 29 to find a solution to the issue. The halt stations are the ones where only passenger and Memu trains stop."The private agencies win contracts to run the stations and garner 15% of the total collection. But the income from each of the seven stations is below Rs 2,000 as the footfall is around 200 passengers per day. Besides, most of the passengers from these stations are season ticket holders. These factors dissuade the agencies from...
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continuing with the operations. We have proposed that MGNREGA workers can clean the station premises and sell tickets or local bodies can be entrusted with the task of operating the stations. The CM said that the government will consider entrusting Kudumbashree with the job," said a senior official with Trivandrum division.Running the stations, where only less than 200 tickets are issued, is not a desirable option for the railway board. But suspending the operation of these stations will put a dent on the development of the area and finally the stations will become a hub for anti-social activities, said the railway official.Railways has to spent Rs 3,000 each time a train stops and resumes service. The amount is calculated considering the electricity charge, time consumption and the wear and tear of the breaking system.Meanwhile, the railways has already closed the operation of Edava railway station in Varkala owing to the same issue.