Title - Allot halts for more trains at Tripunithura: Residents

At a time when the increasing traffic congestion is  suffocating the growing city, various residents associations in and around Tripunithura have come forward with a suggestion that allotting halts to more express trains at Tripunithura Railway Station can solve the traffic woes to an extend. 

According to the associations, if more express train are allowed stops at   the station, the commuters would not have to travel to the Eastern parts of the district. “Now the commuters have to depend on the Ernakulam Town Railway Station instead of the station at Tripunithura. So, thousands of commuters are being forced to travel an extra 15 kilometres,” the residents association members said.

Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association (TRURA) chairman V P Prasad said the extra journey is not only inconvenient for the people but also leaves the city traffic in a mess. Hence, the solution is to allot halts for express trains at Tripunithura. The development of the station has to be given importance as Tripunithura Railway Station, with two platforms that can accommodate 24 bogies each, is still highly under utilised,” said V P Prasad.

P Rajeev M P has said he was conducting discussions in this regard with the Railway authorities.

 “I have requested the authorities to allot halts for Parashuram Express and Island Express at Tripunthura. If the Railways takes a positive step, it will definitely avoid the inconvenience caused to the commuters,” he said.

He added that the Railway station will require more connectivity once  the Kochi Metro Rail becomes operational. “Now, with the authorities  considering the extension of Kochi Metro Rail from Pettah to Tripunithura,  it is the right time to start discussions in this regard,” he added.

However, Railway Area Manager, Ernakulam, P L Ashok Kumar said that it is too early to think about allotting halts for more express trains at Tripunithura. “As of now, they are not considering any such proposals. The  discussions to extend Kochi Metro Rail to Tripunithura are only on its preliminary stage. If such an extension takes place, we will definitely study the suggestion put forward by the residents and take appropriate action,” Ashok Kumar said.