Title - Blocked out by the barricades at Ernakulam Junction

Passengers arriving at the Ernakulam Junction Railway Station are literally having to contend with a rather unneccessary barrier nowadays, courtesy the Railways. The barricade set up by the Railway authorities in front of the station is proving to be nuisance for hundreds of passengers who use the station premises everyday.

According to Sumesh G, a commuter who arrived at the station to board the Netravati Express, the barrier, apparently set up to avoid crowding at the station premises, is not passenger-friendly, as commuters are forced to trudge for nearly five to ten metres to reach the station entrance because of the ill-placed barricades, all along tugging heavy luggage through it. In the past, passengers could easily get down at the entrance of the station as vehicles were allowed through the route. Most passengers believe that the Railways had no right to block a public entrance. Also, the barricade was making it difficult for vehicles to maneuver their way out of the station.

However, offering their version on the issue, Railway officials said that the decision to set up the barricade was taken due to the heavy rush of vehicles in front of the Railway station. “Whenever the Venad Express, the Chennai Mail or other passenger trains arrive at the station, there is a heavy flow of vehicles in front of the station premises, which makes it rather difficult for the smooth exit and entry of passengers. We erected the barricade after orders were issued in this regard by the Divisional Railway Manager’s office,” said Ernakulam Area Manager P L Ashok Kumar.

He added that at every major station except at Thiruvananthapuram Central, entry of vehicles at the entrance of the stations is prohibited. “A few days earlier, a vehicle nearly blocked the entire entrance at the station because of the way it was parked. Also, in the morning, buses enter the station creating a block at the entrance. Also, even though we have set up the barricade, if there are aged or unwell persons, we open an alternate route for their entry,” Ashok Kumar added.

Based on the complaints brought to the notice of the authorities, DRM Rajesh Agarwal has said that he would study the matter and remove the barricade if it was causing difficulty for the passengers at the station.