Kochi: Soon many of the railway stations in the Thiruvananthapuram division will get a new look including beautiful gardens to welcome commuters and new infrastructure like coach indication boards on the platforms.
The divisional authorities are effecting the beautification drive by inviting sponsorships from MNCs and other interested parties.
“The response has been good with many evincing interest. Oil major BPCL has agreed to renovate the Thrippunithura station. A small plot will be handed over to BPCL temporarily where they will set up a garden. Similarly, coach indication boards will be set up on platforms and the infrastructure there will be given a fresh coat of paint. In return we will allow the parties to display their names,” said a senior railway officer.
Another station that now boasts a garden and other trappings is Kollam, done with the help of ‘Chungam’ Jewellers.
“With lakhs of commuters passing through the stations every day, the MNCs are interested in such sponsored beautification work. Also,they have to utilise their corporate social responsibility funds. The Aluva railway station already boasts of a garden and an LED plasma aquarium. The dilapidated untidy looks that stations have is set to change,” the officer said.
The station beautification drive comes after a similar initiative to improve amenities for passengers in partnership with reputed private players.
As a pilot project, M/s Cadell Traders, the authorized distributor of M/s. Coffeeday, has been roped in to re-furbish an old storeroom at Chengannur Railway station into a waiting lounge with facilities such as Wi-Fi, Magazine Stand, modern mobile charging points, well designed sofas and chairs.
