Union Minister Suresh Gopi inspects Kottayam railway station for Sabarimala rush

Union Minister Suresh Gopi visited the Kottayam railway station on Saturday to check the facilities being set up for the Sabarimala pilgrimage season. He made the visit following instructions from the Union Railway Minister to review the infrastructure needed for a larger crowd of pilgrims expected this year.

Train Services And Station Upgrades

The Railways has already started work to upgrade facilities before the season begins. More railway stations will be inspected as part of this drive. The minister stated that authorities are considering running extra special trains during the pilgrimage period. Station facilities will also be improved at places like Chengannur to handle more passengers.

Rail Lines And Healthcare Projects

Regarding the proposed Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line, Mr. Gopi said suitable rail routes will be built to help pilgrims travel to the hill temple. He also expressed confidence that the state will receive an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) project.

Context

The Sabarimala pilgrimage season draws massive crowds of devotees to the hill temple in Kerala every year, requiring special transport arrangements by the railways. Transport infrastructure upgrades during peak festival and pilgrimage seasons are a routine part of managing large-scale passenger movement across Indian rail networks.