Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has promised that the doubling work on the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam stretch via Alappuzha and Kottayam will be completed during the 2014-2015 period.
He said that the funds for the doubling work had already been allotted to the Railways in the state.
Adhir Ranjan was in Kochi as part of the inauguration of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the escalators at Ernakulam Junction station.
Pointing out that escalators are necessary, especially at crowded stations like Ernakulam Junction, the minister said: “Thousands of passengers arrive at the station daily. The installation of escalators will be a great relief for the senior citizens. Five escalators will be installed at Ernakulam Junction station. We are also planning to set up fifteen more stations across the state,” Adhir Ranjan said.
In the first phase, escalators will be set up on the first, second and third platforms in Ernakulam Junction station. Two more will be installed on the fourth and fifth platforms in the second phase. An amount of `3.46 crore has been earmarked for the project and the construction work of the escalators kicked off on Thursday. A sixth escalator can be installed if the Railways acquire land at the eastern entry of the station, he said.
Maintaining that the Centre will cooperate with the state to meet all its requirements, Adhir Ranjan said: “Kerala will be the first state in the country where all level crossings will be manned. It will be developed as a model state. We hope to complete the procedure within a few months. More passenger reservation systems (PRS) will be introduced in the state for the convenience of the rail passengers living in remote areas. Currently, the Railways has started PRSs in 17 places in the state,” he said.
On the paucity of coaches in passenger trains, the minister said that the Railways has taken steps to produce 30,000 more coaches.
“In order to tide over the pathetic state of coaches and railway stations across the state, the Railway Ministry has identified 103 railway stations which will be declared ‘clean stations’