Renovation of historic railway station awaited
Rly minister urges state govt to do its bit
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-09-29 04:53 GMT
KOCHI: The renovation work of the Old Railway Station, now lying abandoned at the heart of the city behind the High Court, will commence immediately if the Kochi Corporation would chip in with half the estimated project cost of Rs 6 crore, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said.
The assurance was given to the Old Railway Station Development Committee General Convenor K P Harihara Kumar who called on the minister when he arrived at the South station on Sunday.
“If the Mayor gives a letter to the railways agreeing to share the project cost, the directions for starting the renovation works would be given the next moment. The railways which is fighting a financial crisis, needs the state government or local bodies to bear half the cost of such projects,” he said.
However, the minister assured that the area owned by the railways would be used only for train operation purposes and nothing else.
“The station holds historic importance as Mahatma Gandhi disembarked at this station in 1922 during his Kerala visit. It’s only apt that the renovation works start on Gandhi Jayanti Day on October 2. If we use the Rs 7.5 crore fund allotted by the Kochi Corporation for city services, then the project could be realized,” said Harihara Kumar.
As per the plan, the Old railway station would be renovated and made the hub of city services.