Kochi: Rail passengers in Malabar are set to gain long-awaited direct connectivity to the pilgrim centres of Rameswaram and Palani, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to inaugurate the Mangaluru Central-Rameswaram-Mangaluru Central Express in Madurai on March 1, according to sources cited by The New Indian Express.

According to the report, Southern Railway officials have confirmed that the weekly service will be launched along with the Tambaram-Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express, a move welcomed by rail users across the Malabar region.

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Modi is also expected to flag off the Coimbatore-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express and the Nagarcoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, besides dedicating redeveloped stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

The Railway Board had announced the Mangaluru-Rameswaram service in March 2024, but its rollout was delayed due to the decommissioning of the old Pamban bridge and the redevelopment of the Rameswaram railway station. With infrastructure works nearing completion, the service is now ready for launch.

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As per the proposed schedule, the weekly Train No. 16622 will depart Mangaluru Central on Saturdays at 7.30 pm and reach Rameswaram at 10.50 am on Sundays, passing through Palakkad, Madurai and Manamadurai. In the return direction, Train No. 16621 will leave Rameswaram at 3.30 pm on Sundays and arrive at Mangaluru Central at 6.55 am the following day.