Lok Sabha Question No. 1726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Redevelopment Projects in Ernakulam
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1726 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2023

## REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ERNAKULUM

## 1726.SHRI HIBI EDEN :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the redevelopment plans consider passengers entering from the rear of the Ernakulam Town and Junction Railway Stations, particularly to ensure access to basic facilities like toilets, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  provisions  have  been  made  to  meet  the  needs  of special groups, including lactating women, differently-abled individuals, transgenders and women in general, concerning facilities, security and mandatory arrangements;

(c)if so, the details in this regard;

- (d)  whether  there  are  strategies  to  address  obstacles  and  ensure the timely completion of the redevelopment projects in Ernakulam Town and Junction Railway Stations with specified quality;
- (e)  whether  a  comprehensive  overview  is  available  for  the  new facilities  planned  for  Ernakulam  Town  and  Junction,  such  as  the proposed Sky Walks and Multilevel Car Parking; and
- (f)  if  so,  the  details  including  capacity,  quality,  efficiency  and effectiveness and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  1726  BY  SHRI  HIBI  EDEN  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA  ON  13.12.2023  REGARDING  REDEVELOPMENT  PROJECTS  IN ERNAKULUM. (a) to (f): Redevelopment plans of Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town stations have provisions for passengers entering from rear side through station building/ foot over bridge/ Skywalks as  applicable.  The  redevelopment  plans  also  have  provisions  for feeding room, Child Help line, health facilitation, security arrangements,  toilets  etc.  There  is  provision  of  Multi-Level  Car Parking at Ernakulum Junction and Ernakulum Town and Skywalk arrangement from Ernakulum Junction station to Ernakulum South Metro station. Skywalk is planned from Ernakulum Town station to Ernakulum North Road Over Bridge from where access is available to  bus  stop  and  Town  Hall  Metro  Station.  East  Terminal  of Ernakulum Junction station is very close to Manorama Bus stand. Above  arrangements  are  adequate  and  effective  for  passengers coming to Railway station by Metro/Bus/Road Vehicle. Indian  Railways  has  an  inbuilt  mechanism  to  check  the  quality  of works,  which  is  being  performed  at  various  levels  by  concerned Railway officials as per guidelines laid down in the Indian Railways Engineering Code, Indian Railways Works Manual and Specification etc.  and  the  works  meeting  the  laid  down  standards  only  are accepted. Further, development / redevelopment / upgradation of Railway

Stations  is  complex  in  nature  involving  safety  of  passengers  &

trains and  requires various statutory clearances  such  as  fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress  also  gets  affected  due  to  brown  field  related  challenges such  as  shifting  of  utilities,  (involving  water/sewage  lines,  optical fiber cables, gas pipe lines, power/signal cables etc.,) infringements,  operation of trains  without  hindering  passenger movement,  speed  restrictions  due  to  works  carried  out  in  close proximity of high voltage power lines etc . and these factors affect the completion time .

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