KOZHIKODE:
Union Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated dedicated six facilities in a function at Kozhikode Railway Station. (Monday, the 26th September, 2016)
The facilities include Laying of Foundation Stone for Extension of Foot Over Bridge at Kozhikode Railway Station and, through video conferencing, Dedication of Tiruvalla – Chengannur (9.6 km) section to the Nation after doubling and electrification at Tiruvalla Railway Station, Inauguration of New Platform No.1 at Palakkad Jn Railway Station, Inauguration of Wi-Fi services at Thrissur Railway Station, Inauguration of Escalator at Thrissur Ra
ilway Station and Inauguration of Escalator at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.
Thottathil Ravindran, Mayor of Kozhikkode, M.K. Raghavan, M.P. and O.Rajagopal, M.L.A. & Former Union Minister of State for Railways, attended the function at Kozhikkode. Anto Antony, M.P. attended the function at Tiruvalla railway station, Adv. V.K. Prashant, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram and C.P. Narayanan, M.P. attended the function at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station. M.B. Rajesh, M.P. & Adv. K. Santhakumari, Palakkad District Panchayat President attended the function at Palakkad Jn. and Smt. Ajitha Jayarajan, Mayor, Thrissur & Sheela Vijayakumar, Thrissur District Panchayat President attended the function at Thrissur railway station. Vashishta Johri, General Manager, Southern Railway, Naresh Lalwani, Divisional Railway Manager and senior railway officers were present at the function at Kozhikkode.
Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said Railway is focusing on long term solutions to problems and also identifying the right cause to ensure stability and steady growth of the organization. The focus in Railway is on customer satisfaction, punctuality, speed and technological advancement. Railway is looking for various kinds of partnerships for development, like NRIs and Voluntary Organisations for Corporate Social Responsibility, State Governments for Infrastructural Development, and Freight customers and stakeholders for developing freight terminals and sidings through PPP investment. Many state governments have become partners of growth of Railways. People’s attitude towards cleanliness should change. Railways has got excellent support from voluntary organizations during the Swachchta Saptaah. We hope for the
Kerala being a highly literate state, we look forward for such association focusing development and maintenance of stations. Various world class stations are developed. Kerala has got many NRIs who can come forward and assist Railways in development.
Railways has also established a new directorate to tap the non-traditional revenue source. The long time initiative of the Railways is sure to bring various development programmes by 2020. He complimented the Kerala Government’s initiative for joining hands with Railways for development of various projects.
The Railway Minister informed that during 2013-14, Rs.318 crores have been earmarked for Kerala projects and Rs.1011 crores for 2016-17 which shows the attention Kerala is getting from the Ministry of Railways. Similarly, against Rs.27 crores of passenger amenity works during 2013-14, Rs.40 crores have been earmarked for Kerala during 2016-17. Kerala people are highly hardworking and enterprising. We look forward to the support for the Railways. 37 stations are likely to get Wifi by the next year. Requests for Kochuveli terminal and Nemam coaching terminal will be examined. Railways has been able to run various Onam specials, and added that one was run within 24 hours of getting a representation.
He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister who has referred Railways as Engine of national growth. The decentralization of powers to General Managers and transparency in services will empower the field level execution of works and projects. Certain important stations are identified which are likely to be manned by Station Directors favour overall focus on activities of that particular station. All the budget proposals of last year is under implementation. Though Railway will not be having a separate budget next year, the development work is sure to continue.
O. Rajagopal, M.L.A. and Former Union Minister of State for Railways requested for development of coaching terminal at Nemam railway station in Thiruvananthapuram area.
Thottathil Ravindran, Mayor of Kozhikkode spoke on the occasion and thanked the Railway Minister for having a function at Kozhikkode railway station.
Foundation Stone for Foot Over Bridge at Kozhikode
Kozhikode now handles 60 Mail/Express trains and caters to more than 60,000 passengers every day, recording average daily earnings of Rs.16.35 lakhs.The platform accessibility has improved immensely at Kozhikode. Installation of two escalators and three passenger lifts, have rendered more ease and comfort for the passengers to access different platforms of the station.
In addition to the existing Foot Over Bridges, a spacious Foot Over Bridge connecting the 2nd /3rd and 4th Platforms at the eastern side of the station building is proposed to be extended to connect 1st Platform. The new FOB proposed will be 32.06 metres long, 5 metres wide and is estimated to cost Rs.96.97 lakhs. This facility will provide easy access from the Booking office to all the platforms of Kozhikode station.
Dedication of Tiruvalla – Chengannur Section
Doubling work of Tiruvalla-Chengannur section covering 9.6 Kms as part of Chingavanam – Chengannur doubling project has been completed and commissioned for traffic on 03.09.2016. The total estimated cost of Chengannur-Tiruvalla-Chenganachery electrification project is Rs.686.32 lakhs out of which electrification works have been completed up to Tiruvalla covering a stretch of 25.56 Km. Further, for the benefit of rail users, three subways have been commissioned in lieu of level crossings between Tiruvallur and Chengannur for the benefit of road and rail users.
Inauguration of Platform at Palakkad
Palakkad Jn gained a new direct entry Platform consequent on completion of yard remodelling work. With access from the main concourse, a new high level Platform No.1, 587 metres long and capable of accommodating 26 coaches has been constructed. This new Platform is provided with galvoleum roofing up to 372
metres. Flooring is done with vacuum de-watered concrete, while anti-skidding Eurocon tiles are laid along 1.8 metres breadth at the track side of this platform. Black granite is laid at the entry point from concourse area. The Platform is accessible through a 2.2 metres wide ramp and steps from the main concourse, connected by two FOBs and the newly inaugurated escalator. Besides, a trolley path also provides connectivity to this platform at the western end.
Inauguration of Wi – Fi at Thrissur
Thrissur is the fourth station after Chennai Central, Ernakulam Jn and Tiruchchirappalli to be provided with Wi-Fi services.This initiative is part of bridging the digital divide and providing high speed access network enabling passengers to stay connected while they are at railway station premises. Rail Tel shall be providing high speed end to end connectivity on Fiber, Google shall be providing the Radio Access Network. Uninterrupted high definition videos, movies, songs, games can be downloaded by passengers at the station.
Inauguration of Escalator at Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram
At Thrissur Railway station an escalator a cost of Rs.102 lakhs interconnecting Platforms 2 and 3 was inaugurated.
At Thiruvananthapuram Central, an escalator has been constructed at Platform No.1. at a cost of Rs.102 lakhs was inaugurated. Passengers at these stations will now be able to access Platforms with ease and comfort.
