COIMBATORE: Construction of an additional platform at North Coimbatore Railway station will be completed by March, Southern Railway general manager R N Singh said on Friday. While talking to TOI about the ongoing work at North Coimbatore railway station, Singh said, “The construction of an additional platform is in progress with provisions for direct entry from the main arch. This platform will be dedicated to MEMU trains and other short-distance trains. So, long distance trains can be provided stoppage at the existing platforms to decongest the Coimbatore Junction railway station. Work on the platform and other structural work being carried out at the station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) will be completed by March.”The additional platform can accommodate about 12-coach trains.Asked about the status of the redevelopment work at the Coimbatore Junction, the GM told TOI, “Earlier, work was planned on the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. But now we have considered executing the project on the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. The PPP mode usually focuses more on commercialisation. On the other hand, the EPC mode is much more cost-efficient and passenger-centric development can be focused. So, these recommendations have been made and are yet to be decided by the railway board.”The GM inspected ABSS work being carried out at Coimbatore North, Podanur and Mettupalayam railway stations in Coimbatore district and at Shoranur in Kerala. He directed officials to expedite work.The GM carried out a detailed sectional inspection from Podanur Junction to Shoranur Junction, reviewing railway track conditions, rail overbridges, foot overbridges, signalling systems and passenger amenities en route. At Walayar railway station, he reviewed the progress of work on installing an elephant intrusion detection system and inspected the proposed locations for elephant underpasses.Various industrial bodies, including the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Codissia, SIEMA and the Kongu Global Forum, submitted their demands to the GM. Their demands include increasing the frequency of the existing weekly and biweekly services from Coimbatore to Rameswaram, Tuticorin and New Delhi.They sought extension of Ernakulam-Palakkad MEMU, Tuticorin – Palakkad Jn Palaruvi Express and Trichy- Erode passenger trains to Coimbatore. They also sought restoration of Dindigul – Coimbatore – Dindigul service via Palani, Coimbatore – Sengottai – Coimbatore Superfast Express via Palani and Coimbatore – Salem – Coimbatore Express via Erode.J Sathish, former member of the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) said, “These services are vital to the Western Tamil Nadu region, which serves a population of approximately 1.8 crore people and is a major hub for industry, education, healthcare and tourism. Strengthening rail connectivity will significantly benefit passengers while contributing to increased patronage and revenue for Indian Railways.”A petition was submitted to the GM on behalf of Mettupalayam residents. They requested the GM to increase the frequency of the MEMU passenger train services between Mettupalayam and Coimbatore from five to eight in both directions.
