As Railway Minister P K Bansal gets ready to table the Union Railway Budget on Tuesday, Kochiites expect some of their long-pending demands will be addressed in this year’s budget.
“The suburban train services have helped in reducing traffic congestion in major cities like Mumbai and Chennai. Here in Kochi, we have all the necessary infrastructure facilities to run such a service. All we need is a push from the Centre,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan.
The introduction of suburban rail service or Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) through the existing network is a major recommendation made in the City Mobility Plan for Kochi. The promoters say the Old Railway Station near the High Court, which is in a dilapidated condition, can be the suburban service hub.
The Railways own 22 acres of land and the proposed train service will connect the old station with the Cochin Harbour Terminus in Willingdon Island.
The Mattanchery Halt Railway Station in Willingdon Island can be the suburban train interchange node for places including Palluruthy, Edakochi, Kumbalangi, Chellanam, Mattanchery, Edakochi and Fort Kochi.
A boat jetty is already there in the area and a bus terminal adjacent to the Railway station can make the interchange possible.
Linking the Railway station to the above mentioned places by frequent bus services will provide greater mobility.
“Every time we expect that the Budget will make some provisions for the commencement of suburban train service, but that never happened. Let us hope that this year the Railways will open their eyes,” he said.
Along with that, the provisions for extending rail services to the Island and the renovation of Harbour Terminus is another demand which is yet to get attention. The entire West Kochi area will benefit if passenger and express trains are extended to the island.
At present only goods trains conduct service on the route. But, the goods carriers will have to change the engine at the Ernakulam South Railway station as the stretch from Atlantis to the Harbour Terminus is not electrified.
