The Maharashtra Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), through its South Indian Cell, has submitted a memorandum seeking the introduction of a weekly special train from Mumbai to Kerala during the forthcoming Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
The memorandum was submitted to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kalyan MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, highlighting the difficulties faced by devotees travelling from Mumbai and neighbouring areas to Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season.
The demand was initiated by Jayan Nair, Coordinator of the South Indian Cell of the Maharashtra Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). The petition seeks the operation of a special train on a weekly basis to Kerala to cater to the large number of Ayyappa devotees from Mumbai and the surrounding regions who undertake the pilgrimage during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season.
Jayan Nair, along with N.T. Pillai, Coordinator of the Navi Mumbai Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), jointly submitted the petition to the Deputy General Manager of Central Railway.
The organisers pointed out that a dedicated weekly service during the Sabarimala season would provide considerable relief to devotees, particularly in view of the heavy rush for regular trains to Kerala during the pilgrimage period.
The petition has urged the Railway authorities to consider the request sympathetically and introduce a special service connecting Mumbai with Kerala during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.