Title - Action council to observe Black Day today

Protest against alleged neglect towards Kazhakuttom by Railways

The action council for development of Kazhakuttom railway station will observe Friday as Black Day in protest against the neglect towards Kazhakuttom by Railways.To register the protest, people from all walks of life, including the railway passengers and students, would wear black badges, the council said. The railway authorities were adopting a negative stand on the genuine demands, including stops for long-distance trains, at the railway station, general convener John Venatius said.The observance of Black Day was part of intensifying the agitation to achieve the immediate demands. Mr. Venatius said one lakh signatures would be collected on Friday in support of the cause. The general convener said the memorandum would be presented soon to the Union Minister for Railways and Chairman of the Railway Board.To wind up the protest on Wednesday, a public meeting would be held on the station premises at 4.30 p.m.

The memorandum submitted by the council to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and a dharna held in front of the Divisional Railway Office had failed to evoke any response, he said.

The council is demanding the elevation of the station as the third terminal of the Central Station; stops for Vanchinad, Malabar, Ernad, Parasuram, Venad, Kannur, and Chennai Super Expresses; increase in the number of ticket counters and reservation facility with IUTS system; and renovation and upgrade of the second and third platforms. Another demand put forward by the council is the renaming of the station as Kazhakuttom Technopark station.