Title - Track doubling work yet to take off

The Railway track doubling work between Ernakulam Town Station and  the Marshalling Yard which was proposed to begin this January is stuck in a rut.

The 1.5-km line that connects Ernakulam Junction and Town stations and the ‘D’  Cabin located at the Marshalling Yard was mooted as a solution to the rail traffic congestion between Ernakulam and Kottayam.

However, six months after the proposed work was set to begin, the project remains a non-starter.

According to the officials with the construction wing of the  Thiruvananthapuram Railway division, the doubling work currently undertaken at Podanur Junction in Palakkad has put a halt to the plans in Ernakulam.

“Whenever, doubling works takes place in one section, the Railways does not approve undertaking similar work in another section as it would affect the  Rail traffic. The work will possibly begin only next year,” the officials said.

 

Alternative Measures

If doubling work is undertaken, the traffic will be disrupted at the Ernakulam Junction and Town stations. This will require alternative measures. Traffic signals will have to be shut down in the section besides carrying out a lot of technical work at both the stations. “We have received  sanction for the work. However, unless we get a nod, the work cannot be kicked off,” the official said.

The doubling work was proposed by the Railways nearly 10 years ago. However,  a lot of technical and alignment issues had delayed the project.

“We have worked out a solid plan to be undertaken once the work begins so as to cause minimal disruption in rail traffic, the official said.

The work is part of the doubling between Ernakulam and Mulanthuruthy stretch. If the 1.5-km stretch is laid, passenger trains arriving from Kottayam and towards Ernakulam will be speeded up. This will also avoid  unnecessary detainment of trains.