By The people living in Tripunithura, Kochi, are very unhappy with the current state of their railway station. For many years, they have been asking the government to improve the station and add more train stops. However, they feel that their requests are being ignored. Now, the residents have decided to take a big step. They are warning the authorities that they might boycott the upcoming 2026 elections if their problems are not solved quickly. This means they will not go to vote as a way to show their protest.
Tripunithura is a very busy area, and its railway station earns a lot of money for the Indian Railways. In fact, it is one of the top revenue-earning stations in the Thiruvananthapuram division. Every month, thousands of people use this station to travel to different places. Even though the station makes more money than many other nearby stations, it does not have enough train stops. Stations with much lower earnings have more trains stopping there, which the local residents find very unfair.
On Sunday, March 15, 2026, hundreds of people, including many women, joined a protest march organized by the Tripunithura Rajangari Union of Residents’ Associations, also known as TRURA. They marched together to demand better facilities. The protesters pointed out that while about 50 new train stops were given to various stations in 2026, Tripunithura was completely left out. They feel that the railway authorities are neglecting their needs on purpose.
One of the main demands of the residents is to have more long-distance trains stop at Tripunithura. Currently, only about 20 trains stop here, while other stations like Angamaly have double that number. The residents want stops for important trains like the Malabar Express, Kerala Express, and Sabari Express. They also want the stop for the Velankanni Express to be brought back, as it was stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic and never restarted.
The importance of the Tripunithura railway station has increased a lot since the Kochi Metro started working nearby. Many people want to take the metro and then catch a train from the station, but they cannot do this if the trains do not stop there. The residents are also asking for better infrastructure, such as building a third platform and opening the eastern entrance of the station. They believe these changes will make travel much easier for everyone in the city.
The leaders of the protest said that they have sent many letters to railway ministers and local representatives over the years. However, nothing has changed since 2013. This long delay has made the people very angry. By threatening to boycott the 2026 elections, they hope to get the attention of the government. They want the leaders to understand that they will only vote for someone who cares about their transport needs.
In conclusion, the residents of Tripunithura are tired of waiting for improvements. They want a fair share of train stops and better facilities at their station, which earns so much money for the country. If the government does not act soon, the empty polling booths in 2026 will show just how serious these residents are about their demands. It is now up to the railway authorities to listen and make the necessary changes for the benefit of the public.
Residents of Tripunithura have warned they may boycott the 2026 elections over the lack of train stops and infrastructure improvements at Tripunithura Railway Station. Protesters argue the station generates high revenue but receives fewer services than nearby stations. Local groups are demanding additional train halts, better platforms, and improved connectivity with the nearby metro system.
