Indian Railways evaluates Nilambur rail connectivity and project reports

Indian Railways is evaluating a proposal to extend the Venad Express to Nilambur in Kerala. The extension aims to utilize a three-hour idle period the train currently spends at Shoranur, addressing a lack of rail services between 10 am and 3 pm on the Nilambur-Shoranur route. To facilitate this, Palakkad divisional railway manager Madhukar Raut stated that the Nilambur station platform will be extended to accommodate 24 coaches, up from its current 18-coach capacity.

Separately, the Kerala High Court has directed the Railways to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway line connecting Kerala and Karnataka by October 14. This directive follows a plea by the CARE Foundation highlighting the need for improved connectivity in the Malabar region. The Railways previously noted that a Final Location Survey is underway, including LIDAR and traffic surveys, to support the project's eventual submission to the Railway Board.