Kochi: It’s a common sight of trains stopping at the ‘outer’ of Ernakulam South station for want of vacant platforms. With a view to decongest the busy South station, the divisional railway authorities are giving shape to a major plan to set up a terminal station here by merging the existing Goods and the Ernakulam Marshalling yards. Though an agency, entrusted with preparation of a masterplan, submitted a report last week, the authorities were not happy with the same. “We’ve entrusted another private agency to make the plan. Basically the project is to merge the existing Goods and Ernakulam Marshalling yards which spread over 110 acre land. The basic details will be worked out in a week and we’ll submit the same for nod of the headquarters and the railway board thereafter,” Ernakulam Area Manager R Harikrishnan said.
Currently, the Goods Yard and the Coach Maintenance Yard are functioning separately. “Even now due to congestion, the rakes are stationed at both the facilities. However, the rakes have to be taken to the South station first before taking it to the other yard. Now the plan is to shift the coach maintenance yard to the Goods Yard,” another official said. Recently, the railway ministry has allocated Rs eight crore for setting up a third pit at the Ernakulam Marshalling yard to facilitate baying of more rakes. “We’ve been demanding a terminal station here similar to Kochuveli (for Thiruvananthapuram railway station) to decongest the South station. Currently the trains are halted at outer regions during peak hours, posing difficulty to passengers. The terminal station along with opening of Harbour Terminus station, would provide enough space for maintenance and halting of rakes,” said Paul K J Manvettom, president, All Kerala Railway Users Association.
