THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Western India Passenger association has appealed to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to take up the commissioning of platforms 2 and 3 of Kochuveli railway terminus. In a written letter comprising a list of requests to the Chief Minister, the association has pointed out that although the construction of platforms at Kochuveli is 90 percent complete, the project is not commissioned yet.They alleged that the trains meant for Kerala were being extended to Nagercoil and Tirunelveli by Southern Railway citing lack of terminal facility in Thiruvananthapuram. The letter says that the trains originally meant for Kerala are being diverted to Tamil Nadu by delaying works at Kochuveli and Nemom. Mounting more allegations on the Southern Railway, the letter further says that the land was acquired at Nemom for a terminus many years back, but now the proposal is believed to have been changed to build a workshop. The Southern Railway has even altered the plan for electrification of the Thampanoor-Nemom section. The letter has also drawn the Chief Minister’s attention towards developing a third passenger terminus in the city with world-class facilities, with 8-10 platforms and attention was also drawn towards the need to upgrade Kottayam as a major terminus. Maintenance yard and automatic coach washing shed have to be included under the maintenance facilities at Nemom. The letter also points out the necessity for electrified double lines from Mangalore to Nemom and a phase by phase upgradation to four lines. They have also appealed to the Chief Minister to form a special task force to complete land acquisition by December 31. The survey for quadruplication of Shornur-Ernakulam line which has been included in the railway budget 2011 should be taken up on a priority basis. The letter also talks about the rail coach factory at Palakkad, bogie factory at Cherthala and a wagon factory at Alappuzha.
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