Ernakulam-Harbour track work begins
The work includes track relaying and renovation of the Harbour Terminus station
By : krishna kumar k e
Update: 2015-10-10 06:20 GMT
Kochi: The Southern Railway has finally started construction activities in the Ernakulam South-Harbour Terminus section to operate the city 'DEMU' (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) service with a team led by Senior Divisional Engineer Venkateswara Rao inspecting the stretch and the station in Willingdon Island.
"The process has started and the work includes track relaying and renovation of the Harbour Terminus station. A team of Engineering Department officers assessed how much quantum of work and the estimate needed. The new tracks have also been brought," said Sunil Bajpai, Divisional Railway Manager.
With this, it almost became clear that the MEMU service would not be operated in the section due to the Navy's objection to installing overhead electric lines on the over five km stretch, citing close proximity to the Naval airport.
The railways and the Navy were in talks for a long time to arrive at a solution with the former planning to extend some of the passenger and MEMU services currently terminating at Ernakulam South station to the Harbour Terminus station.
The Railways would meet the funds needed for the work unlike that of the Old Railway Station which it says would happen only if the state government or the local bodies chip in with half the project cost.
"The Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha during his recent visit made it clear that the ERG (Old railway station) renovation work would happen only if the Kochi Corporation shares half the project cost of Rs seven crore. Currently, it is not in the scheme of things," said sources.