Approach road to rly stn to be fixed
Problems related to the approach road from Ponekkara side and the extension of foot overbridge (FOB) at Edappally railway station will be solved in a month's time if railway authorities are to be believed.
After visiting the railway station last week, Thiruvananthapuram divisional railway manager (DRM) Sunil Bajpai has directed officials in Ernakulam to look into the possibilities of acquiring a plot at the Amritha Hospital-end to extend the FOB.
“Normally FOBs are constructed connecting platforms.However, the DRM has agreed to the demand by passengers to extend the present FOB, covering the sixth and seventh tracks at the Amritha Hospital end, on humanitarian grounds. But the FOB would land on a private plot if it's to be extended. We need to get at least on cent there for the FOB landing,“ said Ernakulam railway area manager Rajesh Chandran, adding that he has been directed to submit a report in this regard this month itself. Railway authorities have also decided to use its land to complete the approach road stretch from Ponekkara.“There's a 100-metre gap in the approach road. The DRM has promised to allocate the plot required to complete the road this month,“ said an officer with the divisional headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram.
The DRM has also directed the divisional operations manager, divisional commercial manager and divisional electrical engineertraction distribution to look into ways to construct split shelters on the platforms at the station and to consult private organisations that came forward recently to financially support the railways to construct shelters, seats, etc.
(Times of India dt 3-1-2015)
(Mathrubhumi Kochi dt 29-12-2014)
Makeover for Edappally railway station likely
Edappally railway station is likely to join the ranks of main stations with divisional railway manager Sunil Bajpai discussing the possibility with representatives of residents, passengers' association and railway officials on Sunday.
Institutions like Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) have expressed their willingness to sponsor the idea if a plan is formulated.
Railway officials, who visited the station, said that they would look into the demands.
“We will require a detailed project report in this case and we will see what we can do. In case of providing stoppage for more trains, there are practical difficulties. If a stop is allotted at the station, it will affect the schedule of all trains on this route,“ said Bajpai.
The case for Edappally station's makeover stems from a host of reasons, ranging from proximity to business hubs like LuLu Mall and hospitals like Amrita to easy access to NH 47, NH 17 and Edappally-Vyttila bypass and the district headquarters at Kakkanad.
The passengers association has sought roofing solutions for the station.
“Thousands of passengers suffer whether it is rain or shine. As only a couple of trains have stoppages here, most passengers who are to alight at Edappally get off at Ernakulam southnorth stations and travel by road home. Passengers have to shell out more money and spend extra time,“ said president of Edappally Citizen's Forum P R Padmanabhan Nair, adding that the station badly needs a road connecting to Ponekkara, where thousands arrive in buses from different parts of the city.
Meanwhile, AIMS officials approached the railway, offering financial support to erect roof on the second platform.
Bajpai asked them to submit a written application. They added that patients coming to the hospital from different parts of the state are having a difficult time as most trains don't have stoppage at Edappally.
Railway officials in Kochi said that they prefer constructing separate shelters along the second platform rather than choosing a single file for construction. Absence of adequate space had forced the railway officials to think in terms of small independent shelters.
(Times of India dt 29-12-2014)
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