Kochi: For decades, the Kalamassery railway station in the city outskirts was neglected with few commuters travelling from there. No last mile connectivity modes, lack of proper approach roads and street lights and no stoppage for any Express trains were among the factors that forced commuters to ditch the station. The Kalamassery Municipality has now taken up the cause of station development, promising to set up all allied infrastructure facilities while asking the railways to allot halts for at least two Express trains at the morning and evening rush hours.
“A slew of development projects has come up in the region like the Cancer Centre, KINFRA IT Park, Start Up village and the like. Also the station will benefit those travelling to Kakkanad and near-by areas. A proposal will be submitted in the next council meet to set up a bus stop at the NAD Road entrance of the station. Also we’ll provide proper approach road to the main entrance and set up street lights,” municipal chairperson Jessy Peter told DC. Currently, only eight trains, all passenger ones, halt at the station daily and only a handful of commuters turn up even during peak hours. The average monthly earning is a paltry Rs 1 lakh per month.
“The main issue is that there is no connectivity to the main entrance of the station. The nearest bus stop -- Premier Junction, is a good one-and-a-half kms away. A proper approach road should be build and bus services to Kakkanad and city areas should be started from here. The station if properly developed will cater to hundreds of commuters, including the patients arriving to the Medical College and the Cancer Institute,” said P K. Sadasivan Nair, Ernakulam District Residents' Association Apex Council (EDRAAC) Kadungallor Area president. The municipal chairperson has already taken up the stoppage of a few Express Trains at the station to the concerned railway authorities through K.V. Thomas MP.
