**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 143, addressed to the Minister of Railways on July 30, 2025, inquired about the status of the recommendation from the Trivandrum and Palakkad Divisions to augment Train Nos. 16325/16326 Nilambur-Kottayam Express with an additional general sitting coach and an AC Chair Car, as recommended by the Southern Railway following its inspection. The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, responded that Train Nos. 16325/16326 Nilambur-Kottayam Express has been augmented from 12 coaches to 14 coaches with effect from May 21, 2025, through the addition of one General class coach and one Chair car. The response further clarifies that augmentation of train services is an ongoing process within Indian Railways, contingent upon traffic justification, operational feasibility, and resource availability.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for railways.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
E T Mohammed Basheer: Member of Parliament who asked the question.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Trivandrum Division: A division of the Southern Railway zone.
Palakkad Division: A division of the Southern Railway zone.
Nilambur-Kottayam Express: Train number 16325/16326 running between Nilambur and Kottayam.
Southern Railway: One of the 18 zones of Indian Railways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 143
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
ADDITIONAL GENERAL COACH IN TRAIN
*143. SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
the present status of the recommendation by the Trivandrum and
Palakkad Divisions for augmentation of Train Nos. 16325/16326
Nilambur–Kottayam Express by providing an additional general Sitting
coach and an AC Chair Car as recommended by the Southern Railway
in its inspection?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. 143 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
16325/16326 Nilambur-Kottayam Express has been augmented from 12
coaches to 14 coaches by attaching one General class coach and one
Chair car with effect from 21.05.2025. Besides, augmentation of train
services is an on-going process on Indian Railways subject to traffic
justification, operational feasibility and availability of resources etc.
*****