Thiruvananthapuram Division, Southern Railway, celebrated the 79th Independence Day
at the Divisional Railway Office, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, with pride and patriotic fervor. Shri Divyakant Chandrakar IRSE, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), hoisted the National Flag in the presence of Shri Muhammed Haniff IRPSF, Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, and took the salute at an impressive RPF parade, which included women platoons and the St. John Ambulance Brigade volunteers.
Smt. M.R. Viji IRAS, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, along with senior officers, staff members and their families, as well as representatives of trade unions and associations of the division participated in the celebrations.
In his address, the DRM underscored the Division’s alignment with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and outlined a clear roadmap for contributing to this goal through enhanced passenger-centric services, infrastructure modernisation, and technological upgrades. He reaffirmed the Division’s commitment to safety, punctuality, and service excellence, and lauded the staff for their role in achieving record earnings, expanding digital ticketing, and delivering consistent operational improvements.
The ceremonial programme featured a parade by RPF contingents, an engaging display by the RPF Dog Squad, and vibrant cultural performances by various departments, including children of railway staff, adding color and enthusiasm to the celebrations.
Highlights of DRM’s speech:
As a part of Indian Railways we should work with a focus on the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” aimed at making India a fully developed nation by the centenary of independence. The year 2024–25 marked a period of exceptional performance for the division, achieving its highest-ever gross earnings of ₹2,323 crore, passenger earnings of ₹1,705.71 crore, and ticket-checking revenue of ₹41 crore. This momentum has continued in the current year, with close to one lakh passengers being carried daily. Passenger earnings have grown by 4.84% to ₹570 crore, gross revenue has touched ₹742 crore, and freight has contributed ₹116.25 crore from 1,104 metric tonnes transported. 50% of Unreserved tickets are now sold digitally through ATVMs and the UTS Mobile App.
The “One Station One Product” scheme has completed 45 phases, supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs. In July 2025 alone, stalls at 17 stations sold 11,881 items, earning ₹13.33 lakh for the local artisans. Special train operations have seen a remarkable increase, with 1,703 services in 2024–25, a 94% rise over the previous year. This year, 48 special train services were introduced before Onam to manage festive travel demand. All festivals and pilgrimage season has adequate trains and two pair of Independence day trains are operating today. Capacity has been enhanced by augmenting MEMU services from 16 coaches, introducing a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express between Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru, and resuming agro-machinery traffic after a three-year gap.
Infrastructure development reached new milestones, with a record capital expenditure utilisation of ₹548.19 crore. Modernisation works under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme are underway at 15 stations, with Chirayinkeezh and Kulithurai inaugurated recently by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Four more stations — Trippunithura, Chalakkudi, Changanasseri and Wadakancheri — are set for completion on October 2nd. Track renewal touched 103.147 km, along with significant works on bridges and safety upgrades enabling 100–110 km/h speeds in key sections. The Prime Minister also dedicated new double-line sections in the Nagercoil and Kanyakumari area.
Safety remains a top priority, with zero consequential train accidents recorded this year. Awareness initiatives like Safety Samwad and innovations such as the “Point Positioner” have contributed to this achievement. In healthcare, the Divisional Railway Hospital at Pettah became the first in Indian Railways to secure NABH accreditation. The Railway Protection Force has been proactive, rescuing 257 children under Operation Nanhe Faristey, detecting 180 trafficking cases worth ₹31.76 crore, and making key arrests in theft and snatching incidents.
Human resources have seen significant developments, with 1,126 appointments in a year, 961 promotions, and 261 MACP benefits granted and the first departmental promotion exams conducted through CCBT. The division earned awards for best Personnel, Medical, Finance, and Safety branches. Material management also set a record with the highest-ever scrap sale of 8,553 MT, earning ₹32.07 crore. SRWWO has been active in organising welfare programmes, summer camps, and cultural activities, contributing to the well-being and camaraderie of staff.
