KOCHI: Passengers waiting to board trains from Ernakulam North (Town) railway station need not sweat it out anymore.
From Thursday, they would be able to wait for trains in the air-conditioned waiting hall, which has been set up after authorities considered passengers’ demands to provide basic amenities at the station. The hall has been introduced with assistance from Kudumbasree.
A senior railway official said the AC waiting room was being introduced at the North station, following the success of the AC waiting room at Ernakulam South railway station.
“Passengers with a valid travelling or platform ticket can use it for `20 per hour. Kudumbashree has invested around `6 lakh in the project and would manage the hall. At present, at least 500 passengers are using the AC waiting hall in South railway station and the average daily collection from there is approximate `12,000. We are expecting a good response for the waiting hall here, too,” said the official.
Considering the long-pending demands of passengers to introduce basic facilities at the station, work is also on to sett up a lift and an escalator at the station. Work on both structures was disrupted in the last few months but has resumed now. The two facilities are expected to be launched next month. Moreover, a project to provide free drinking water at the station round the clock is also on the anvil.
“We are also looking to introduce a VIP lounge and a non-vegetarian refreshment stall at the station. The sites for their construction have been identified and a proposal has been sent to Southern Railway headquarters in Chennai,” said railway officials.