Kozhikode: Electrification of railway line under Palakkad division should be completed by July, Southern Railway general manager Vashishta Johri said here on Tuesday. Talking to reporters during the annual inspection on the railway station premises, he said there were no new services to Malabar in the pipeline. “Line electrification is expected to be completed by July and the track doubling by the year-end,” he said. He responded positively to the demand for MEMU services to Kannur and a special service to Nedumbassery airport.
Kozhikode MP Raghavan submitted a memorandum demanding amenities such as more connectivity, Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) facility, Angadipuram-Kozhikode new line, automatic signalling system and space for a fire station on railway station premises. “The GM has promised to consider the development of Feroke, Kadalundi and West Hill stations,” he said. After a discussion with Mullappally Ramachandran MP at Vadakara station, Mr Johri said development works to the tune of Rs 3 crore had been completed at Vadakara station of the Rs 5 crore sanctioned.
“New platform shelters, toilets, restrooms for porters and modification of the main building will be carried out soon,” said Mr Ramachandran. The underpass at Onjiyam would be completed by March, and the platform at Nadapuram Road station extended. The modernisation work at Koyilandy Railway station would be resumed soon. The total estimation for the same is Rs 1.16 crore. Divisional manager Naresh Malvani and other top officials accompanied the GM. He inspected the main stations up to Kannur.
