Railway revises redevelopment deadlines for ERS, ERN stations

The deadline for completing the redevelopment of Ernakulam Junction (ERS) and Ernakulam Town (ERN) railway stations has been revised to March 2028 and December 2028, respectively, following the re-tendering of the works.

The Railway terminated the contracts of the firms concerned after they failed to adhere to the project timelines. The pending works at ERS were re-tendered earlier this year, while a similar process is under way for ERN station. When the works began in August 2022, the initial redevelopment costs of ERS and ERN were ₹300 crore and ₹150 crore, respectively, with August 2025 set as the deadline.

Redevelopment works progressing at Ernakulam Town railway station on July 25.
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

Railway sources said the stalemate over the works at the two stations and the cumbersome procedures associated with re-tendering them would invariably result in an escalation in project costs. The pending construction works at ERN will resume in January 2027, they said.

The All Kerala Railway Users’ Association (KERUA), meanwhile, has demanded that the Railway ensure a safe and well-lit pathway for passengers and others from the entry to the exit of ERS. “It must also provide semi-permanent roofing so that they can safely use the stretch during the monsoon. In addition, it is high time the Railway raised the height of the low-lying platforms at the station, considering the difficulties faced by passengers and the numerous fatal and other accidents caused by the inadequate platform height,” said Paul K.J. Manvettom, president of the association and a member of the Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC).

KERUA has also sought steps to improve amenities at the eastern entry of both stations, considering that a large number of residential areas in the city are located on the eastern side. “The Railway seems focused on the main entry of the two stations on their western side, overlooking the potential of their second entry on the eastern side. Platform 2 at ERN, which faces the bottlenecked second entry, must be extended up to the Ernakulam North overbridge. This, in turn, will enable the construction of a skywalk linking the railway station with the adjacent Town Hall metro station. At ERS, the length of four platforms must be increased, as only Platforms 1 and 3 can currently accommodate trains with the full complement of 25 coaches. This inadequacy has resulted in trains being detained at the outer of the station,” Mr. Manvettom said.

The passengers’ association has also been seeking the installation of lifts and escalators at all platforms in the stations.

Forum’s demand

The Karithala Poura Samiti, a collective of families residing near the eastern entry of ERS, has also demanded that the Railway do justice to the station’s eastern entry by making optimal use of the available space and the building owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA). “It must be kept in mind that more than 35 families surrendered their land to the GCDA for the development of the station’s eastern entry. The Railway is still reluctant to take over the building that the GCDA offered for ₹10 crore over a decade and a half ago, while Platform 6, which faces the eastern entry, does not have a roof,” said Viju Choolakkal, secretary of the Samiti.