In a significant announcement made on Thursday, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian, revealed an ambitious plan to completely eliminate all railway level crossings across India by 2030. This initiative forms a core part of the nation’s extensive railway modernization program.
Minister Kurian delivered this news during the inaugural ceremony for the Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express, which now includes a new stop at Changanassery railway station. He emphasized that this additional halt is just one element of the continuous efforts to upgrade the railway infrastructure. Looking ahead, the Minister also shared plans for the nationwide introduction of more Vande Bharat and other state-of-the-art, high-speed trains. A key vision for the future is to ensure that all stations, regardless of size, will eventually accommodate stops for long-distance and high-speed services, dramatically improving passenger accessibility.
Continuing his address, the Union Minister highlighted that Kerala alone will see 35 of its railway stations upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Stations scheme, backed by a substantial allocation of ₹2,500 crore. Furthermore, Changanassery is slated for improved connectivity, with upcoming links to both the developing Sabari railway line and the Punalur railway line.
Mavelikkara MP Kodikkunnil Suresh was also present and delivered a speech at the event.
This new stop will officially be implemented starting Friday, October 10, 2025, benefiting both the 12082 Thiruvananthapuram Central–Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express and its return service, the 12081 Kannur–Thiruvananthapuram Central Jan Shatabdi Express. Divyakant Chandrakar, the Divisional Railway Manager for Thiruvananthapuram, also spoke at the ceremony.