Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate four new railway services for Kerala on 23 January during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram, marking a significant boost to long-distance and regional rail connectivity in the state.
Indian Railways has cleared four train services for Kerala, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains. These services will operate on the Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram, Thiruvananthapuram–Hyderabad, and Nagercoil–Mangaluru routes. In addition, a daily passenger train between Guruvayur and Thrissur has been approved to strengthen short-distance travel within the state.
The inauguration ceremony is scheduled between 10:45 am and 11:20 am, during which the Prime Minister will formally flag off the new trains and dedicate several railway-related projects. The Amrit Bharat Express is designed as a superfast, non-air-conditioned service offering affordable travel through sleeper and unreserved coaches, primarily connecting cities located more than 800 kilometres apart.
The Prime Minister’s visit also carries political and developmental significance, coming soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. As part of the visit, PM Modi will present a “Development Blueprint 2030” outlining future growth plans for the city to Mayor V V Rajesh. A party event at the same venue will follow, where further development initiatives for the corporation are expected to be announced.
Beyond Kerala, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a total of six new train services nationwide on the same day. Tamil Nadu will receive two additional Amrit Bharat Express trains, operating on the Nagercoil–Cherlapalli and Coimbatore–Dhanbad routes.
The programme will also include the inauguration of 11 redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. In Kerala, stations such as Kuttippuram, Changanassery, and Shoranur are among those upgraded. After completing the engagements in Thiruvananthapuram, the Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Chennai at 12:40 pm.
