Kochi: The new integrated coaching complex in Ernakulam is proposed to be set up on the 110-acre land owned by the railways at Ponnurunni, nearly two km from the Ernakulam main junction railway station.
The original proposal was to integrate the existing marshalling yard and coaching depot which have 10 and eight lines respectively. There is enough space to establish up to 15 platform lines, more than that in the New Delhi railway station, though the plan was to construct six platform lines initially.
What makes the project more attractive is that it will be located just 1.5 km from the Vytilla mobility hub.
"We've been demanding a terminal station here similar to Kochuveli (for Thiruvananthapuram railway station) to decongest the south station. There is a long-standing demand from the people's representatives as well as the public to provide a halt station at Ponnurunni. The coaching terminal could be the right solution as it would also provide enough space for maintenance and halting of rakes," said Mr Paul K.J. Manvettom, president, All-Kerala Railway Users Association.
The Nemom coaching terminal was mooted a decade back considering the lack of adequate platforms to handle trains at Thiruvananthapuram central and the satellite terminal at Kochuveli. It is proposed to come on nearly 12 hectares of vacant land owned by the railways and another 30 hectares of land has to be acquired.
The plan envisages the setting up of 10 pitlines which could handle maintenance of up to 30 trains a single day besides stabling lines, sick lines and railway quarters.
