Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Thiruvananthapuram Central to be made a world-class station

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

New complex to have a built-up area of 10-lakh square feet

Thiruvananthapuram: Steps are being taken to convert the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station into a world-class one.

The expression of interest (EOI), invited to identify those interested in the project, will be opened on March 17 by the divisional railway authorities. Later, tenders would be invited for carrying out feasibility studies for the proposed project, a top railway official told The Hindu .

The new complex of the railway station will have a built-up area of 10-lakh square feet. It will have all modern facilities including an office and commercial complex. A one-km long strip of land is needed for laying the track for the proposed station complex that would have platforms at different levels.

The proposal under consideration of the Railways is to shift the intermediate over hauling (IOH) facility located near the second entry on the Power House road, five pit lines and three stabling lines on the Central station premises and use the land for setting up the new complex.

The IOH facility, along with five lines and a goods shed, would be set up on the land owned by the Railways at Nemom. The Railways own 10.52 hectares of land in Nemom. An equal area of land will have to be acquired.

Since the Railways have already cleared the Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMU), the divisional authorities will also have to find out land for a suburban terminal in the capital. According to the official, the proposal is to set up the suburban terminal at Nemom or Putharikandam maidan.Since the expansion project of Thiruvananthapuram Central is a massive one, only a consortium would be able to take up the project.

Thiruvananthapuram Central is the largest railway station in the State and one of the busiest railway hubs in South India. The station is among the 16 major railway stations in the country selected to be converted into world-class standards. Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad had laid the foundation stone for the expansion and modernisation of the station in December last.

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