Title - Kochuveli terminus cries for infrastructural push

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kochuveli terminus in the city continues to be a not so passenger friendly railway station due to lack of basic amenities.The station, which has 11 express and superfast trains, and nine passenger trains originate or pass through, is yet to have a foot over bridge connecting the two platforms. As a result passengers have no other choice but to drag their heavy luggage across the tracks if they have to go from one platform to the other.Lijin V, an advocate who arrived at the station on the western entrance of the station, alongside the All Saints junction-Thumba road, said that auto drivers intentionally take passengers to the wrong side."My train was stationed at the platform on the eastern entrance, but as this was my first journey from Kochuveli I was unaware about this. The auto driver took me to the wrong entrance and then demanded Rs 50 to take me to the other side. I refused to get fleeced and finally had to drag all my belongings through the tracks. There were many others, especially passengers from North India who got swindled and had to cross the tracks in a similar way," he said.Railway staff at the terminus said that crossing the tracks was dangerous as express trains which had no stops here."Senior citizens, kids and women are vulnerable in such conditions and it is high time authorities address the matter," said Thomas (name changed), a gangman.

The station opened in 2005 was promised fast development with 10 platforms and supporting infrastructure. But even after seven years, things remain more or less the same.

Divisional railway manager Rajesh Aggrawal said that construction of a third platform was underway and infrastructure development would go side by side with the hosting of more trains at the terminus.