Dear Honorable Minister,
This is in continuation of my earlier letters of 1st November, 2010, 8th February and 9th February, 2011 regarding various issues relating to the development and functioning of the Railways in respect of my constituency, Thiruvananthapuram. For the sake of convenient reference, I am hereby enumerating in brief, the major issues which require your kind consideration and favorable action:-
1. Augmentation of train services
(i) New daily super-fast train between Bangalore and Tvm
(ii) The tri-weekly Kochu Veli-Bangalore Express (6315-6314) may be operated daily.
(iii) Special trains being run between Bangalore-Ernakulam during Onam should be run between Tvm-Bangalore from the next festive season Christmas onwards.
(iv) Extend Train No, 56701 Kollam-Madurai Passenger to Nagapattinam.
(v) New daily super-fast train between Tvm and Mumbai via Konkan and via Kottayam
(vi) The existing Mumbai-Mangalore Matsyaganda Express between Mumbai and Mangalore via Konkan may be extended to Tvm.
(vii) Extend the Kannur-Alleppey Executive Express to Tvm
(viii) The Kanyakumari-Nagercoil-Rameshwaran Express may be routed through Tvm.
(ix) The (tri-weekly) Tvm-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express should be run daily.
(x) A new Kanyakumari-Goa Express should be run via Tvm/Konkan
(xi) The bi-weekly Sampark Kranti Kochu Veli-Chandigarh Express may be run four days a week.
(xii) The two passenger trains reaching Tvm before 9.00 am from Kollam and Nagercoil are lying idle at Tvm Central till 5.00pm. These trains may be extended to Nagercoil and Kollam respectively.
(xiii) A new daily passenger service may be started between Tvm-Central and Nagercoil at 1.00pm and 7.00pm and between Nagercoil and Tvm at 4.00 pm.
(xiv) A new passenger train between Tirunelveli and Punalur bvia Tvm
(xv) A new Superfast Express train to Kolkotta
(xvi) A new day train between Tvm asnd Guruvayoor.
(xvii) A new train between Secunderabad and Thiruvanathapuram (via Coimbatore without
touching Shornur).
(xviii) Attach additional coaches on all the following passenger trains operating between TVMCentral and Nagercoil :
727 – Madurai – Kollam Passanger
372 – Nagercoil – Tvpm Passenger
364 – Nagercoil – Kottayam Passenger
375 – Tvpm – Nagercoil Passenger
373 – Kollam – Nagercoil Passenger
728 – Kollam-Madurai Passenger
376 – Nagercoil-Tvpm Passenger
371 – Tvpm-Nagercoil Passenger
377 – Tvpm – Nagercoil Passenger
2. Additional stoppages
(i) All long-distance trains originating from and terminating at Kochuveli. should be given stoppage at Kazhakuttam. Stoppages should be allowed at Kazhakuttam for as many trains as possible on the Tvm–Ernakulam and Ernakulam –Tvm sector. There is specific demand for stoppages at Kazhakuttam for the ‘Intercity Express’ (Ekm-Tvm/Tvm-Ekm) and the Bangalore-Kochuveli Express)
(ii) Train No 6723 Chennai-Tvm Ananthapuri at Parassla and Dhanavachupuram
(iii) Train No.6724 Tvm-Chennai Ananthapuri Express at Parassala and Dhanavachupuram
(iv)Train No.6381 Mumbai-Kanyakumari Jayanti Janatha Express at Parassala and
Dhanavachupuram; and
(v)Train No.6382, Kanyakumari-Mumbai Express, Jayanti Janata Express at Paassala and and Dhanavachupuram
(vi)One minute halt at Dhanuvachapuram for Train No. 729 Madurai-Kollam passenger.
(vii)One minute halt at Balaramapuram for the Bangalore-Kanyakumari Island Express and the Mumbai-Kanyakumari Jayanti-Janata Express
3. New Railway Zone A new Railway Zone named ‘Peninsular Railway Zone’ with its headquarters located at Thiruvananthapuram should be created. The southern- most tip of the peninsula has strategic and development implications of a major kind. The creation of a new Peninsular Zone for the area will be a major step in meeting these vital strategic and economic imperatives of the coming years.
4. Infrastructural Development of Stations
(a) Thiruvananthapuram Central: (i) to start work for raising it to ‘international level’ as proposed in the Railway Budget, 2009-2010
(ii) Shifting of 6 (six) stabling lines to either KochuVeli or Nemom to increase availability of platforms
(iii) Increase ticket dispensing counters both for short – distance as well as long-distance passengers.
(iv) Make automatic plant form-ticket vending machines, functional
(v) Construct at least two more 5-metre wide foot over bridges. At least one of them to have escalators
Pettah station to be made the signal block station for all incoming trains from
northern side.
(vi)More coaches to be allotted to TVM Division
(vii) Up-grade traffic signaling system at the station.
(viii)Post adequate staff (Station Masters, Shunting staff, Traffic Porters)
(ix) Link the station with the upcoming KSRTC complex at Thampanoor through over bridges.
b) Pettah : (i) Increase passenger amenities (ii) Provide adequate space for parking for autorickshas and taxis
(c) Kochuveli : (i) Develop as second major terminal of the city (ii) Improve passenger and infrastructure facilities
(iii) Start work for up gradation to ‘Adarsh’ Station’ status as announced in the 2010-2011 Railway Budget.
(iv) Complete work on the Rs.1.5 crore foot over-bridge expeditiously.
(v) Install proper signage’s, construct boundary wall, construct proper approach road, clear vegetation.
(vi) Construct additional platforms and pit lines.
(vii) Cover fully the platforms with canopy
(viii) Construct cloak room, information centre, adequate toilet facilities, telephone booth, book stall, refreshment stalls, public address system.
(ix) Improve connectivity from Thampanoor Central bus stand and East Fort. Discuss with KSRTC about starting services via Kazhakuttam NH by pass, Perumathura, Veli Tourist Village.
(x) Develop station as major goods yard for the city
d) Kazhakuttam : (i) Construct additional platforms (ii) Roof all platforms (iii) Counters for availing of season-tickets and computerized reservation to be opened.
(iv) Take up offer of Ministry of IT, Govt. of India for assistance to modernize the station and equip it with the extra facilities including for reservation and issue of season tickets.
(v) Re-name station as ‘Technopark-Kazhakuttam’ Railway Station.
(vi) Construct an underpass to enable thousands of commuters to cross the tracks safely.
(e) Nemom : (i) Maintain station premises properly (ii) Construct additional platforms, stabling lines (iii) Construct new station complex. (iv) Speed up track-electrification, develop approach roads, construct foot over-bridge and residential and rest-room facilities for staff. (v) Develop the surplus land available here with the Railways for converting it as a major railway establishment hub.
f) Balaramapuram : (i) Improve passenger amenities . (ii) Develop a master plan for the station in view of the fact that it will be the connection station for the up -coming International Container Terminal Project at Vizhinjam
g) Neyyattinkara : Improve passenger amenities. Start computerized reservation facility immediately.
h) Amaravila : Improve passenger amenities
i) Dhanuvachapuram : (i) Improve infrastructure and passenger amenities. (ii) Start work for up gradation to ‘Adarsh Station’ status as announced in the 2010-2011 Railway Budget.
j) Parassala: (i) Develop it as a major station on the TVM-Nagercoil-Kanyakumari route since it is the last station in the State towards the south.
(ii) Repair second platform. Reduce gap between platform and rail carriages to eliminate chance of injuries to passengers.
(iii) Utilize the surplus land available with the railways for major rail development works.
5. Railway Medical College The proposal for setting up of a Railway Medical College at Pettah announced in the 2009-10 Railway Budget be implemented immediately. If there are unsolvable impediments of availability of land at Pettah the Medical College may be set up either at Nemom or Parassala which fall in Thiruvananthapuram district..
6. Road Over bridges
Construction of road over bridges at the following locations may be taken up:-
(i) Melaranoor-Poojappura CIT road as proposed in the 2010-2011 Railway Budget.
(ii) On Karamana-Jagathy road near the railway quarters.
(iii) On the Kazhakuttam-Menamkulam road adjoining Kinfra Park.
(iv) On the Balaramapuram-Kattakada road near Balaramapuram railway station. (v) On the Neyyattinkara-Arakunnam road.
7. Track doubling Expedite track doubling works being undertaken on the TVM-Nagercoil and Nagercoil-Kanyakumari route.
8. Track electrification and introduction of MEMU services (i) Electrification of the TVM-Kanyakumari route announced in the 2010-2011 budget to be expedited. (ii) Introduce MEMU services on Kollam-Nagercoil-Kanyakumari sector.
9. Maintenance Depot at Nemom Surplus land available at Nemom may be utilized to set up a Coach/Wagon Maintenance and Repairing/Overhauling Unit
10. Punctuality It should be ensured that the 372 Nagercoil – Tvpm passenger maintains punctuality on its arrival time of 8.45am at Tvpm – Central since it serves a large number of office-goers.
11. New line The survey of the Erumeli-Tvm line announced in the 2010-11 budget may be taken up immediately. Survey for a new Nilambur-Tvm line may be announced.
12. Cleanliness Drastic improvements may be carried out with respect to quality of train cleaning services, especially pest control in passenger coaches and washing of linen, pillows, etc.
13. Safety One TT may be posted in each compartment in the sleeper coaches of all long-distance trains to ensure safety of passengers and unauthorized/ticketless travel.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Ku. Mamta Banerjee,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Govt. Of India,
New Delhi.