New terminal file heads to Railway Board; Proposal to name it 'Ernakulam Central'

Kochi: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed railway terminal at the Ernakulam Marshalling Yard in Kochi is set to reach the Railway Board for consideration, as the railways have fast-tracked the procedures. A meeting regarding this was held on Monday at the Southern Railway Headquarters in Chennai. Southern Railway General Manager R N Singh convened the meeting following a proposal by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden.

The entrance to the station will be from above the Ponnurunni Railway Overbridge. The General Manager informed that the file will be submitted for Railway Board approval within a month. The blueprint for the new terminal, estimated to cost ₹267–₹270 crore, is ready. The new terminal will feature six platforms, three pit lines for maintenance, and stabling lines to park trains, the General Manager stated during the meeting.

Hibi Eden MP pointed out that he has been raising the demand for a new terminal at various levels—from the Union Railway Minister to railway authorities and inside the Lok Sabha—for a long time to ease the congestion at Ernakulam South and Town stations.

The MP also demanded that the development work at Ernakulam South station be completed in a time-bound manner. The General Manager replied that the construction of two floors at the front and two floors at the rear of the South station will be completed within six months.

New contract for Ernakulam North station

The General Manager announced that the current contractor, who delayed the redevelopment works of Ernakulam North station, has been terminated, and the project will be re-tendered in September.

Furthermore, MP Hibi Eden demanded that more train stops be allocated at Tripunithura, the waterlogging issue at Kumbalam railway station be resolved, Edappally railway station be modernised and urgent railway support be provided for the Vaduthala and Atlantis railway overbridges.

Officials responded that land acquisition has been completed in Vaduthala, while land acquisition for the Atlantis railway overbridge is still pending.

16 coaches for Vande Bharat

Considering the heavy rush, the MP requested that the coaches on the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express be increased from eight to twenty. Officials stated that South Western Railway is currently taking steps to upgrade it to 16 coaches.