Rousing reception as Vande Bharat train arrives in Kerala

T'PURAM: The first Vande Bharat Express train allotted to the state was given a rousing reception at stations across the state on Friday. A large number of BJP workers led by Union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan reached Kochuveli railway station to welcome the train around 6pm.
Earlier, the semi-high speed train, on its way from Chennai integral railway coach factory to Thiruvananthapuram, was offered a grand reception as it touched the first railway station in the state at Palakkad Junction at 11.45am. BJP workers garlanded the loco pilot and distributed sweets to the staff. BJP state secretary C Krishnakumar, treasurer E Krishnadas and other leaders were present at the station.

The Thrissur Railway Passengers' Association welcomed the train at Punkunnam railway station and by BJP leaders and activists arranged a reception at Thrissur Railway station. Vallath Ramkumar, former member of the Thiruvambady Devaswom, greeted the loco-pilots by garlanding them at Punkunnam. BJP district president Aneeshkumar, state secretary A Nagesh and other leaders received the train and crew by offering flowers.
In Kochi, the train was welcomed with great enthusiasm at Ernakulam Town railway station around 2pm. BJP workers and residents shared their happiness by offering sweets to the loco pilots and the crew members. P Rangadasa Prabhu, president of Ernakulam district residents associations' apex council, who was at the railway station, said that it was a moment of pride that the Vande Bharat train had reached the city. Mahila Morcha state secretary Smitha Menon said that it was a significant day for the state as the train was a Vishu gift from the PM to the people of Kerala. The train left Ernakulam Town station after a halt of 10 minutes.
In Kottayam, the BJP workers arranged a rousing reception to the train. In an apparent response to CPM state secretary M V Govindan, the BJP workers led by the district secretary Lijin Lal distributed 'appam' among the passengers present at the platform. Govindan, while listing out the benefits of the state government's proposed SilverLine project, had spoken about how Kudumbashree personnel could gain by selling 'appam' by travelling in the SilverLine.
The train will be officially flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Central Railway Station, Thampanoor, on April 25. A rake comprising 16 coaches is supposed to ply between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur and is expected to cover the distance to one side in seven hours. The railway authorities have not officially confirmed the ticket rates and the number of stops the train will have in the state. It is learnt that the train will have stops at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur stations.
The train has been shifted to the Kochuveli yard where it would be stationed till its official flag-off. There are 1,000 seats in the 16 fully AC coaches. Of these, 40% are executive class and 60% are first-class tickets.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the Vande Bharat Express to the state triggered a controversy as the state government has made it clear that it has not received any official communication from the Centre regarding its launch. The office of minister V Abdurahiman, who is in-charge of railways, has informed that official reaction from the state government will come only after from the official communication from the Centre.
(With inputs from Kochi, Kottayam, Palakkad and Thrissur)