RailEnquiry

KOCHI: The railway has initiated a slew of measures to ensure smooth flow of vehicles at Ernakulam Junction station. The decision was taken following frequent traffic chaos at the station, especially during peak hours, due to unorganized parking of vehicles on the premises.

According to sources, new arrangements have been made by the Thiruvananthapuram railway divisional manager, Rajesh Agrawal, who had recently conducted a review of the situation at the station.

Both public and private vehicles will not be allowed to enter the portico of the station as per the new direction. Instead specific areas will be demarcated for all kinds of vehicles, including buses, autorickshaws and taxis. Reflectors will also be installed at the parking area.

According to railways, bus bays will be provided at the station. Currently, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is operating a few services from the station during peak hours.

"Bus drivers park vehicles wherever they find free space at the station. We will soon provide bus bays for them," said Ernakulam southern railway area manager P L Ashok Kumar. The bus bay will have facility to park three buses at a time.

The railway had recently shifted the parking area for taxis and introduced a queue system for them. A pre-paid taxi counter will also be set up at the station adjacent to the pre-paid autorickshaw counter.

The pre-paid auto counter at the station was also shifted recently to ensure free flow of vehicles.

"As autorickshaws were operating in the anti-clockwise direction, the situation was chaotic at the station earlier," said a railway official.