Chengannur railway station


Chengannur railway station is an 'NSG 3 category' station located at Chengannur in Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the busiest stations in the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kollam Junction-Kottayam-Ernakulam route, primarily due to the Sabarimala pilgrims. The station is managed by Southern Railway under the Thiruvananthapuram Railway division. Chengannur Railway Station is primarily useful for the people of Pathanamthitta district.

History

Chengannur rail link came into existence in 1958 when Ernakulam - Kottayam meter gauge railway line was extended to Kollam Junction. The railway line between Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam Junction via Kottayam was converted to broad gauge in 1976.

Significance

Chengannur railway station is the nearest rail station to reach famous pilgrimage places like Sabarimala, Pandalam, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Parumala Church and Maramon. The railway station has been declared as 'Gateway of Sabarimala' by Indian Railways in 2009. It serves the people of 3 districts - Alappuzha, Kottayam
and Pathanamthitta. The proposed Aranmula Airport is 11 km away from the station.

Future expansion plans

Development plan for providing an Escalator for two platforms and Lift facility for Platform 2 is finalized and works has started in November 2013. A new line linking Chengannur with Thiruvananthapuram Central via Adoor, Kottarakara Kilimanoor and Nedumangad is awaiting approval from the Planning Commission. Another line to Pampa via Pathanamthitta has also been proposed. After the new line materializes, there would be stations at Adoor, Kottarakkara,

A sub-urban service connecting Chengannur to Trivandrum is under consideration.