1.0 Major ongoing Railway projects in Trivandrum and Palghat Divisions.
Ø A total of 689.17 crores has been allotted in the budget 2018-19 for Railway projects inTrivandrum and Palghat divisions.
Ø The doubling of track in Changanaseri-Chingavanam-Kottayam-Ettumanur-Kuruppantara Section and between Haripad-Ambalappuzha are the major doubling works in progress in the state.
Ø Doubling of Trivandrum-Kanyakumari and Nagercoil-Tirunelveli section also is in progress.
Ø Out of this, the doubling of track between Changanaseri and Chingavanam, Kuruppantara and Ettumanur, Nagercoil and Kanyakumari and Mangalore and Panambur are targeted for completion during the current financial year.
Ø As part of doubling new station buildings are being constructed at Ettumanur, Changanaseri and Chingavanam stations.
Ø As part of doubling, 3 additional platforms are proposed at Kanyakumari. The following additional facilities are proposed at Nagercoil:
Platforms – 2, Stabling lines – 4, Pitlines – 3, Sick lines – 2
Improvements to the following stations are also sanctioned and are under various stages of progress:
NEMOM:
A new coaching terminal has been sanctioned at Nemom at a total cost of Rs.73 crores. Facilities proposed at Nemom are as follows:-
Ø Phase 1:- Two additional platform lines, 5 stabling lines and one shunting neck at a total cost of 92 crores.
Ø Phase 2:- Three stabling lines and 4 pit lines, sick line, power car shed at a total cost of 226 crores.
Phase 1 at a cost of 73 crores has been sanctioned during the current year.
KOTTAYAM:-
Redevelopment of Kottayam Station at a total cost of 20.2 crores. The major items included in the scope of work are as follows:-
Ø Improvements to the circulating area and provision of second entry at Kottayam.
Ø Improvements to the facade of the station building, provision of multilevel two wheeler parking.
Ø Improvements to Platform surface.
Ø Improvements to waiting hall, waiting room, toilets etc.
Ø Widening of the Foot Over Bridge and provision of lifts and escalators.
Ø As part of doubling one FOB connecting Platforms and second entry also is planned.
ERNAKULAM JUNCTION:-
Redevelopment of Ernakulaminto World Class Station at a total cost of Rs.470 crores
KOLLAM :-Improvements to Kollam Station.
The following works are in progress:
Ø Provision of FOB 3.7 crore.
Ø Improvements to second entry circulating area 3.4 crore.
Ø Provision of second entry arch 0.2 crore.
Ø Provision of escalators and lifts in platform 1and 2 3 – 2.9 crores.Total 10.2 crores.
CHENGANNUR
The following amenities have been proposed at Chengannur station at a total cost of 5.0crores:
Improvements of facade and provision of pilgrim shelter.
ALAPPUZHA
Provision of SMR Office, waiting hall and VIP lounge at a cost of 70 Lakhs.
Other Works:
Ø Proposed construction of 3rd line between Shoranur and Ernakulam at a total cost of Rs. 1518 crores.
Ø FOB at 9 stations in Trivandrum division (16.25 crores) and 17 stations in Palghat division(30.28 crores)
Ø Raising/extension of Platform at 14 stations in Trivandrum Division (19.69 crores) and 9 stations in Palghat Division (12.97 crores)
Ø Electrification of Quilon-Punalur (44 KM), Shoranur-Nilambur (66KM)
TIRUR
Improvements to passenger amenities and provision of FOB – 2.8 crores, work completed
KANNUR
Improvements to passenger amenities, subway, circulating area – 5.5 crores work in progress.
KANHANGAD
Improvements to passenger amenities – 2.5 crores work in progress
2.0 Safety Related works
Ø All unmanned level crossings in Kerala have been eliminated, thus enhancing the safety of the rail as well as the road users.
Ø To strengthen the track, special drive has been undertaken to take up track renewal works on a large scale. The progress of track renewal works during the current year is as below:
Trivandrum division :- 54 KM, Palghat division:- 45 KM
Ø To facilitate track renewal works, train services are being regulated. Although this causes inconvenience to the public,the same is inevitable to wipe out the back log in respect of the safety related track works.
Ø There are 97 number of ROB’s sanctioned for the state of Kerala.
Out of these, 12 numbers are targeted for completion during the current year. Balance are under various stages of progress.
3.0 Passenger amenity works completed during the last 4 years and in progress
Ø All Railway stations in Kerala state have been provided with 100% LED illumination.
Ø Escalators were commissioned in 16 stations and works in progress at 2 stations.
Ø Passenger lifts commissioned in 12 stations and works in progress at 6 stations.
Ø 27 numbers of FOB’s/Subways were commissioned and work is in progress at 4 stations.
Ø Platform extension works have been completed in 35 stations and works is in progress at 6 stations.
Ø All women facilitation centres are provided at Kozhikode and Trivandrum.
Ø AC paid waiting hall are provided at 8 stations.
Ø Boot Laundry has been provided at Kochuveli and planned for Mangalore and Ernakulam.
Ø WiFi has been provided at 21 stations in Kerala.
Ø Integrated Security System (ISS) has been implemented at 4 important stations over Trivandrum and Palghat divisions.
Ø Child Help Desk is functional at 4 stations – Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Thrisur and Kozhikode in tie up with NGO.
Ø Stations having Emergency Medical Care Centres – 5 Stations (Nagercoil, Trivandrum, Quilon, Ernakulamand Thrisur)
Ø Battery Operated Cars – 7 Stations (Nagercoil-2, Trivandrum-2, Quilon-2, Kottayam-2, Ernakulam-3, Alwaye-3 & Thrisur-2)
Ø Divyang Corner – 2 Stations (Ernakulamand Thrisur). This facility comprising of ear-marked parking area, wheel chairs, stretcher, ear-marked pathway from parking area to platform with anti slippery tiles, etc)
Ø Wheel chairs are provided at all stations
Introduction of new trains and other services.
Ø ANTHODAYA express started service between Kochuveli and Mangalore during June 2018 and between Gandhidham Junction and Tirunelveli in July 2018.
Ø 9 pairs of trains in Trivandrum division have been provided with LHB rakes in lieu of the conventional rakes.
Ø The DEMU service between Ernakulam and Kochi Harbour Terminus will be started on 26.09.18 on experimental basis.
Ø Heritage special train hauled by heritage steam loco EIR 21 is planned for run between Ernakulam and Kochi Harbour Terminus. Further it is proposed to develop Kochi Harbour Terminusas a heritage station.
Ø During the period from Jan 2017, 5 additional stoppages in Trivandrum division and 4 additional stoppages in Palghat division were provided.
4.0 Kerala floods:
Railways have extended valuable assistance to the flood affected areas during the recent floods in Kerala. The train service in the state was restored more expeditiously than road and air services. 25 numbers of express specials and 21 passenger specials were run by Railways as part of the flood restoration assistance. The train services in Trivandrum and Palghat division was restored expeditiously duly mobilising officers and other officials for Railway works from other divisions of Southern Railway. Relief material were also arranged from other divisions of Southern Railway to expedite the restoration of train service in Trivandrum and Palghat division.
5.0 Other Initiatives by Trivandrum division:-
Ø Many innovative steps were taken including re-distribution of Locomotives, regenerative Braking to save time etc. to improve the Punctuality. This has resulted in punctuality improvement of 10% in the last one month.
Ø Due to various efforts and drives, the Division has been able to improve its Earnings by nearly 4.1% vis-à-vis last year, despite the decrease during Flood periods. It is expected that with increased case of business, Division will further improve the earnings.
Ø With more focus on Loadings, Division has been able to fetch more traffic and thus, Goods loading has been improved by 21% as compared to last year.
Ø In order to have minimum effect on Punctuality, the critical Track works are being planned in the night,so that the commuter trains are least affected. However, speed restrictions are being put whenever safety issues are critical.
Ø During the recent Floods in Kerala, Division did a commendable work of supplying relief materials, water bottles and water rakes and rescuing people from flood affected areas. Division also contributed nearly Rs.1.0 Crore to Kerala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Still the relief work is being done by staff of the Division in various spheres.
Ø In order to give boost to Digital India Programme, Division has embarked upon Cashless transactions through Digital Wallet and Card transactions in all major Catering Units. This is further proliferated through Cashless transactions at PRS and Mobile Ticket Bookings.
Ø Various environment friendly initiatives has been launched like Bottle Crusher at TVC and Go-Green initiatives taken during SWACHHTA PAKWADA. The Cleanliness efforts are being continued in a big way at every station of the Division.