Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Second phase of Kochuveli terminal to be expedited

Staff Reporter

Kochuveli to be developed as second coaching terminal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The work on the second phase of the satellite terminal at Kochuveli will be expedited to handle more trains that are likely to be extended to the capital with the completion of the electrification up to Thiruvananthapuram by year-end.

Speaking to The Hindu , General Manager, Southern Railway, Thomas Varghese said the idea is to develop Kochuveli as the second coaching terminal to enable the authorities to handle more trains, as Thiruvananthapuram Central would not be able to handle new trains as its capacity had exceeded. The first phase of the terminal is nearing completion and the Sampark Kranti to Chandigarh has commenced operations from here.

Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bangalore, after inspection has given the nod for raising the sectional speed from the existing 90 km an hour to 100 km an hour in the Kottayam-Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram Central section. This will enable the Railways to increase the speed of some express trains on the stretch, he said.

Mr. Varghese said a sum of Rs.15 crores had been allocated for easing the slopes in the landslip prone areas in Thiruvananthapuram Central-Nagercoil section. The work on replacing the existing sleepers with concrete sleepers in Thiruvananthapuram Central-Nagercoil section is on and will be completed by this year.

The circulating area in Thiruvananthapuram Central will be expanded by the year-end to provide more parking area for the cars. On the steep hike in the parking fee at the second entry of the central station, Mr. Varghese said the Railways will "relook" into it.

The Railways will give maximum thrust this year in the division to electronic-based passenger guidance system. As part of this, new platform vending machines would be set up at Nagercoil junction, Mavelikara, Tiruvalla, Kottayam and Ernakulam Town. Touch screens would be set up at Varkala, Kollam, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Aluva and Alappuzha. Passenger Operated Enquiry Terminal at Tiruvalla will be commissioned on July 23. LCD plasma boards and call centre will be set up at Thiruvananthapuram Central.

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