It is a solace for long-distance commuters, forced to wait on platforms and congested waiting halls of the Ernakulam Town Station. The two waiting halls, constructed nearly a year ago with state of art facilities, will be thrown open to the public this month.
Ernakulam Area Manager P L Ashok Kumar said that the official date of inauguration would be fixed soon. The waiting halls with attached bathrooms are expected to reduce the congestion at the mini-waiting room at the station. Also, it will be an answer to the complaints on insufficient number of toilets and unhygienic atmosphere. “Even though we had completed most of the work of the waiting halls, the procurement of furniture was a problem. We have got the chairs and have fixed the lights and the fans. We hope to inaugurate them this month,” Ashok Kumar said.
Waiting halls are the need of the hour at Ernakulam Town station where most of the long-distance trains halt, especially during the night.
Currently, the dripping roofs at the station cause a lot inconvenience to the public. Also, the chairs on the platforms are damaged. Bathroom facilities are not sufficient. These complaints can be addressed to an extent with the opening of the halls. The passengers have also demanded a solution for the dog menace and septic waste on the station premises. On some days, the drainage near the station which is not properly managed overflows.
The railway officials said that they have expedited the work of the roofing of the foot over bridge in the Ernakulam Junction Station.