Thiruvananthapuram: The Rs 495 crore redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station is unlikely to solve its chronic overcrowding problem. There are no plans to add platforms by relocating the train maintenance yard, nor to add facilities at stations like Kazhakoottam and Thiruvananthapuram North to introduce stoppages and absorb passenger load. The redevelopment will add an upper-level concourse and wider foot overbridges, creating more circulation space. But platforms will remain narrow, and crowding is likely to persist. Four railway stations–Thiruvananthapuram South, Thiruvananthapuram North, Pettah and Kazhakoottam—could have been developed simultaneously. Passenger associations have renewed calls to introduce stoppages at smaller stations to ease pressure on Central, particularly after a recent escalator accident left several people injured. However, railways has been unable to do so due to the lack of adequate station development. At Thiruvananthapuram North, train maintenance pit lines occupy the centre of the station, and tracks run on either side. This layout restricts rake shunting, as movements risk interfering with passing trains. At Kazhakoottam, trains would need to move into the loop line to stop, causing delays of seven to ten minutes. Dakshin Railway Employees Union central vice president B Susobhanan said the railways should have developed smaller stations alongside Central. “The railways is doing only real estate expansion. This will not help operate more trains. They should have moved out the train maintenance facility and added more platforms at Central. North station and Kazhakoottam should have been developed simultaneously,” he said. He added that land acquisition should have been planned for North station to shift the maintenance facility and to improve platforms at Murukkumpuzha. Liyons J of Friends on Rail said the Railways should introduce a stoppage for trains such as Vanchinad Express at Pettah railway station, as they bring a large share of daily commuters into the city. He pointed out that several major hospitals, govt offices and business establishments are located near Pettah station, which also enjoys good connectivity to other parts of the city. Introducing more train stoppages there would help reduce passenger congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, he said. A three-day temporary stoppage for the Vanchinad Express at Pettah had eased crowding and helped many commuters reach their workplaces on time.
