T’puram: Railways is likely to complete most of the work for redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram South railway station by the end of this year.The Rs 117 crore project is progressing fast and the terminal, train maintenance facilities including pit lines and stabling lines will be ready by year-end. A railway official said that the work is going on rapidly to meet the deadline. The platforms and shelters are ready and the terminal work is going on. The pit lines and stabling lines to inspect coaches are taking shape. The terminal and train maintenance facility are crucial to add more trains from the state capital and to operate more passenger trains on Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil southern route. The track doubling will also be completed alongside so that the station will be ready to be used as a satellite terminal for congested Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station. The doubling work from Eraniel to Thiruvananthapuram (55km) is also progressing in places where land has been acquired, said the official. Track doubling between Nagercoil Town station and Eraniel in the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Kanniyakumari section has been completed, and inspection of track, electrical systems, and other engineering installations is going on. By the end of the year, the entire southern line will be doubled, making it easy for the railways to operate more trains for the commuter traffic. A large number of people travel between Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram for work and education and people also travel by train to reach Nagercoil to board connecting express trains.
