Ernakulam Junction railway station redevelopment: retendering process on

Chaos reigns on the Ernakulam Junction railway station (ERS) premises, thanks to the inordinate delay in completing the station redevelopment works and the severely potholed carriageway from the station’s entry to its exit.

Although the deadline to complete the ₹300 crore work, and to build a skywalk to the adjacent Kochi Metro station, expired in August, only about 20% of the work is complete, it is learnt. The shoddy upkeep of the carriageway from the station’s entry to the exit has made matters worse, with commuters having to endure a nightmarish ride through the ill-lit and potholed corridor, complain commuters.

Vehicles parked in the no-parking zone near the Ernakulam Junction railway station inconveniencing commuters.
| Photo Credit:
H. VIBHU

Narrating the ordeal of commuters who board or alight trains at the station, Balaji Krishnan, who frequently commutes by train to the city, said hundreds of commuters were left to use the crammed leftover space outside the barricaded, but idling worksites of the station redevelopment project at ERS. “Rain makes matters worse, with passengers having to wade through dirty water to enter and leave the station.”

“Although the eastern entry of the station is in relatively better condition, there is no lift or escalator there for passengers. Commuters are also oftentimes at the mercy of stray dogs that abound in the station premises,” he added.

The Railways shall take proactive measures to streamline the movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the station premises and to revive the stalled station redevelopment works, he suggested.

Way before redevelopment works began at ERS in 2023, the Kerala Railway Users’ Association (KERUA) had demanded that the Railway ensure a raised and well-maintained carriageway having a roof in the limited space around the barricaded work sites, to overcome waterlogging. “Despite the metro station being located next door, commuters have to wade through the dirty and potholed carriageway within the station premises to board the metro,” said Leela D., another train commuter.

This is apart from the ordeal that commuters have to endure when they board or alight trains from the low-lying platform number three. Commuters are thus forced to literally jump out of trains that berth there, with their luggage. This, in turn, often causes delay in trains leaving the station, she said.

Retender

Responding to the concerns, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) (Construction) of Southern Railway Om Prakash, spoke of how the contract with the (public sector) firm, which was unable to adhere to timelines to complete the ₹300-crore station-redevelopment work, was terminated a couple of months ago. “The new tender will be opened on September 5, and the pending work ought to be completed in 24 months after the contract is awarded.”

In the meantime, work has been awarded to resurface the carriageway within the station using paver blocks, Mr. Prakash said.

As for issues relating to the low-lying third platform and the inadequate length of four of the six platforms at the station, Railway sources said that the contract to raise platform three has been finalised as part of the station redevelopment project, and the work will be over by January. It is hoped that the short platforms will be extended in due course so that they can host trains that have up to 24 coaches, they added.