Telangana: Villagers collect money to stop trains at Nekkonda

Warangal: In an effort to convince officials to stop more trains at Nekkonda railway station, villagers are buying tickets for the Secunderabad-Guntur Intercity Express train without intending to board it themselves.

According to South Central Railway (SCR), if the revenue generated at Nekkonda railway station increases significantly, it may consider stopping express trains at the station.

A WhatsApp group – Nekkonda Town Railway Ticket Forum – was also formed for the purpose, with around 400 villagers, ranging from street vendors to businessmen. He collected donations of around Rs 25,000 to buy daily tickets from Nekkonda to Khammam and Secunderabad.

Group members, including administrators like B Ram Gopal, ensure timely ticket purchases before the arrival of the Intercity Express. Additionally, tickets are purchased for passengers from nearby villages.

Ram said that the dream of the people of Nekkonda is to have a stoppage for all express trains at any station for convenient travel.

Earlier, villagers had submitted several requests to stop Padmavati, Konark, Navajeevan and Gautami Express trains at Nekkonda station. However, the authorities cited insufficient revenue as the reason for not allowing these trains to stop at the station. Despite unsuccessful attempts to stop the trains, the villagers remain determined.