Kochi: Even as the Railways prepares a draft plan on train operations from the Old Railway Station, demands have arisen from various quarters, including the Old Railway Station Development Committee, to start the services on Gandhi Jayanti day.
“The station holds a historic importance as Mahatma Gandhi disembarked on this station in 1922 during his Kerala visit. It’s only apt that the services start on Oct 2,” committee president P. K. Harikumar said.
“Also the Railways had made it clear that the services would be operated first and the station renovation comes only at a later stage. They have to just lay tracks covering 1.3 kms. We’re forwarding the request to the railway authorities in this regard.”
Railways, however, feels October 2 is “not feasible” as there are plenty of works to do before the station can be revived which are not in the railway’s control.
“I’m making no promise at this stage,” divisional railway manager Sunil Bajpai said.
As per initial plan, this station was to be renovated and made the hub of city services. “It’s estimated to cost Rs 5 crore for development of ERG and the Harbour Terminus. They want the state to chip in half the cost. If we use the Rs 7.5 crore fund allotted by the Kochi Corporation for city services, then the project could be realised,” Mr Harikumar said.
Meanwhile, various passenger associations started promoting the first city service launched in the Angamaly-Piravom route.
“The Edapally Railway Passengers Association (ERPA) has put up flex boards of the DEMU timetable to enable public to know the timings at various places including Amritha Hospital and Ponekkara,” said R. D. Manikandan, secretary.
Mr Harikumar said currently some of the trips from Tripunithura side come to North directly, skipping the main Ernakulam South Junction. “More passengers would travel if all services touch South. Similarly the morning trip could be started from Piravom Road instead of Tripunithura,” he said.
