Budget Proposals from TRPA

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TRPA have forwarded this memorandum from Thrissur to Kum. Mamata Banerjee (Minister for Railways), Sri.E. Ahamad (Minister of State for Railways), Sri.P.C. Chacko (MP), Sri.M. Vijayakumar (State Minister for Public Works), Sri.K.P. Rajendran (State minister for Revenue), General Manager (Southern Railway) and Divisional Railway Managers of Trivandrum & Palakkad Divisions.This memorandum will be further persuaded through Prof.M. Muraleedharan & Sri.C.H. Rasheed, who are representing Thrissur in various Railway Consultative Committees.

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12 November 2010

To,

Kum.Mamata Banerjee,
Honourable Minister for Railways,
30-B, Harish Chatterjee Street,
Kolkata-700 026.

Respected Madam,

We are aware that the discussions for preparing the Railway Budget for the year 2011 – 2012 are beginning soon. In this regard, we are bringing the following suggestions for your kind consideration and inclusion in the forth coming Railway Budget.

Infrastructure Development in Keralam

1. The doubling of Shornur – Mangalore sector including the Netravati Bridge may be completed in 2011.

2. Doubling of Ernakulam – Kayamkulam sector via Kottayam & Alleppey may kindly be expedited on war footing for early completion.

3. Electrification of Shornur – Mangalore sector may be expedited and shall be completed in the next 2 years.

4. Construction of Guruvayur – Thirunnavaya line may be taken up on top priority.

5. Keralam is fast developing as a single Metro city. Commuter traffic throughout the state is also increasing rapidly day by day. To offer seamless transport to the commuters, dedicated tracks for MEMUs have become essential. Hence, the proposal for introducing automatic signaling system and laying of 2 additional tracks exclusively for suburban service from Mangalore to Nagercoil may kindly be included in this budget.

6. Considering the heavy traffic between Shornur and Ernakulam, additional tracks and automatic signaling system may kindly be sanctioned in this sector, in the first phase.

7.Raising & covering of ltaforms may be carried out in small stations.

Introduction of new trains and increase in frequency of existing trains

1. Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMUs) at frequent intervals may kindly be introduced in the Coimbatore – Ernakulam, Shornur – Ernakulam, Guruvayur – Ernakulam & Kayamkulam - Thiruvananthapuram sectors for the benefit of commuters.

2. A daily express train may kindly be sanctioned between Ernakulam & Bangalore via Shornur, Kannur, Mangalore, Hassan & Mysore/Arsikere.

3. Considering the large number of migrant labourers from eastern India working in Keralam, more express trains from Keralam to places like Kolkata, Guwahati etc may be introduced.

4. The frequency of train no: 0215/0216 Madgaon – Ernakulam Express may kindly be increased to daily. This train may please be started from Vasco-da-Gama and extended upto Kanyakumari via Kottayam for the benefit of tourists and pilgrims. Operating this train as a connection to train no: 2051/2052 Mumbai – Madgaon Jan Satabdi express may please be considered favourably. If implemented, this will serve as another direct connection between Mumbai and Kerala.

5. There is no south bound train from Kozhikode after 13.45 hrs (departure of Jan Satabdi) till 16.10 hrs (Kannur – Ernakulam Intercity). A train may kindly be introduced during this gap towards south.

6. Train Nos. 647/650 Shornur – Ernakulam – Shornur Passengers may kindly be run on Sundays also. Using the idling rake of this train, a new passenger service in Ernakulam – Guruvayur sector may kindly be introduced.

7. A passenger service may please be operated in the Guruvayur – Trichur – Guruvayur sector using the idling rake of 302 passenger.

8. A direct train service between Guruvayur & Tirupathi may be sanctioned to connect the 2 most important pilgrim centres in southern India.

Extension of trains

1. Train no: 616 Kannur – Shornur passenger may kindly be extended up to Thrissur. The departure time of this train from Kozhikode may be revised to 17.30 hrs by avoiding 1 hr detention there.

2. Train Nos: 633 & 634 Passengers may kindly be extended up to Ernakulam to meet the increasing commuter demand. This train may be operated using a MEMU rake.

3. Train nos: 6123/6124 Chennai Egmore – Trivandrum Ananthapuri Express may kindly be extended up to Guruvayur via Kottayam (by pairing the rake with 6127/6128). This will be helpful for the pilgrims and passengers of southern Tamil Nadu & Keralam in reaching & leaving Guruvayur during the day time suitable for worship.

Facility Improvement

1. UTS facility may be extended to all the stations.

2. The facility for purchasing unreserved tickets 3 days in advance from UTS irrespective of distance may be restored. To avoid malpractice, cancellation facility for such tickets may be withdrawn.

Thrissur

1. A stop may kindly be sanctioned for train nos: 2287/2288 Kochuveli – Dehradun express and 2519/2520 Ernakulam – Pune express at Thrissur. Please note that these are the only trains which do not have a stop at Thrissur.

2. The departure time of train no: 615 Thrissur – Kannur passenger from Thrissur may be revised to 6.30 hrs by adjusting the “cushion time” provided in Shornur.

3. The advance reservation centre in Thrissur may please be relocated to a more spacious and convenient location.

4. A foot over bridge with escalator and lift facility, connecting all the platforms in the middle portion may be sanctioned for Thrissur.

5. A Road Over Bridge may be constructed connecting the KSRTC road and Poothole road, over Trichur Railway Station (Krishnarajapuram model).

6.The width of Road Over Bridges at M.G. Road and Diwanji moola (near station) may be increased to accommodate 4 lane traffic

Punkunnam

1. Punkunnam being the closest station to Trichur, may be given the “Pairing Station” status of Trichur in the UTS and provision to purchase to and fro Trichur tickets from Punkunnam UTS may be allowed for the benefit of passengers.

2. Covering of both the platforms may be sanctioned at Punkunnam.

3.Punkunnam is to be recognized as the satellite station of Thrissur and stops for the following trains may please be provided at Punkunnam to ease out the rush at Thrissur.

i. 6341/6342 Guruvayur – Thiruvananthapuram Express

ii. 6307/6308 Kannur – Alleppey Executive Express

iii. 6525/6526 Kanyakumari – Bangalore Express

iv. 6349/6350 Mangalore – Thiruvananthapuram Parasuram Express

v. 6301/6302 Shornur – Thiruvananthapuram Venad Express

vi. 6605/6606 Mangalore – Nagercoil Eranad Express

vii. 6305/6306 Kannur – Ernakulam Intercity Express

Guruvayur

1. The departure of train no: 6341 Guruvayur – Thiruvananthapuram Express from Guruvayur may be revised to 4.00 hrs or after. Considering the importance of Punkunnam as a satellite station of Thrissur and the odd timings of this train, a stop at Punkunnam may please be sanctioned.

2. Yard modification and construction of 2nd platform may be expedited at Guruvayur for early completion.

3. A Road Over Bridge may be sanctioned at Guruvayur.

4. Additional counters may be sanctioned in Guruvayur advance reservation centre and the timing of 8 hrs to 20 hrs may be maintained.

Ollur

1. Second platform may be constructed at Ollur to avoid delay in handling the Trichur bound Passenger trains.

Nellayi

1. Intermediate Block System (IBS) may be installed at Nellayi station for improving the line capacity.

2. Re-modelling of the station building, increasing the height & length of platform no:2, resurfacing of approach roads, utilization of unused land etc may be sanctioned at Nellayi.

3. Nellayi station may be brought under the direct control of Railways (presently it is a contract station) and UTS facility may be provided for ticketing

Pudukkad

1. Road Over Bridges may be sanctioned at Pudukkad & Nandikkara.

2. Covering of both the platforms may be sanctioned at Pudukkad.

3. More seats & drinking water facility in both the platforms, waiting room and other facilities may be provided.

4. Paid parking facility with covered shed may be introduced at Pudukkad.

5. Season tickets may be issued round the clock.

Expecting your favourable consideration and thanking you,

Yours truly,

P. Krishnakumar

General Secretary