KOCHI: Though suburban train services have been catering to different pockets in major metros like Mumbai and Chennai, a suburban train connecting different areas of a fast growing city like Kochi still remains a distant dream. The necessary infrastructure facilities for the introduction of a suburban rail service or mainline electrical multiple unit (MEMU) are already there in the city and all that the authorities have to do is to make use of the existing network and renovate the old railway stations.Cochin Harbour TerminusThe entire West Kochi area will benefit if passenger and express trains are extended to the island. At present only goods trains are conducting service on the route. But the goods carriers will have to change the engine at the Ernakulam South railway station as the stretch from Atlantis to the Harbour Terminus is not electrified. The main hurdle in electrifying the track is the objection raised by the Navy and the Defence Ministry citing the proximity of the area to the Naval Airport.ElectrificationExperts, however, say that the problems related to electrification of the funnel area of the airport can be technically sorted out. “The electric trains draw power from the overhead line with the help of a device called pantograph. The pantograph can be lowered to cover the total funnel area of nearly 80 metres. The same mechanism is used for electrified trains when they pass through small tunnels. Another solution is that if the Navy thinks that the electrification of rail line will affect the free landing and take-off of Naval aircraft, it can be easily solved as there are provisions for laying underground cables in that area,” they said. The total cost for electrifying the nearly 5-km stretch is expected to cost Rs 1.5 crore, which is lesser compared to the investment for huge capital-intensive projects like the Metro Rail.Suburban TrainsThe introduction of suburban rail service or mainline electrical multiple unit (MEMU) through the existing network is a major recommendation made in the City Mobility Plan for Kochi. The Old Railway Station near the High Court can be the suburban service hub. The Railways owns 22 acres of land and the proposed train service will connect the old station with the Cochin Harbour Terminus in Willingdon Island. The Mattanchery Halt Railway station at Willingdon Island can be the suburban train interchange node for places including Palluruthy, Edakochi, Kumbalangi, Chellanam, Mattanchery, Edakochi and Fort Kochi. A boat jetty is already there in the area and a bus terminal adjacent to the railway station can make the interchange possible. Linking the railway station to the above mentioned places by frequent bus services will provide greater mobility.Vathuruthy Rail OverbridgeThe construction of a new rail overbridge at Vathuruthy will help ease the traffic congestion at the Vathuruthy railway gate. “The proposal has already been included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. There is no need for land acquisition as the land owned by the Navy and Cochin Port Trust can be used for the construction of the new RoB. As it is a JNNURM project, the Centre and the state government will contribute 50 and 30 per cent respectively of the total project cost, there will not be any burden on the civic body,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan.
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