Lok Sabha Question No. 546 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Status of Thrissur Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 546 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## STATUS OF THRISSUR RAILWAY STATION

## 546.SHRI T.N. PRATHAPAN :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  current  status  of  the  developmental  project  for  Thrissur railway station;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  a  special  project  to upgrade the Irinjalakkuda railway station and carry out developmental activities and if so, the details thereof;

(c)whether the Government is likely to allocate a special financial package  for  the  developmental  activities  in  Guruvayur  station, considering the importance of this town as a notable Hindu pilgrim center and if so, the time by which it is likely to be done; and

- (d)  the  projects  pending  among  the  infrastructural  developments including  foot  over  bridges  under  passes,  etc.  in  Thrissur  and  the time by which these projects are likely to be completed ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  546  BYSHRI  T.N.  PRATHAPANTO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.12.2023REGARDINGSTATUS OF THRISSUR RAILWAY STATION.

(a) to (d): Ministry of Railways has launched 'Amrit Bharat Station scheme' for development of Stations on Indian Railways. Thrissur and Guruvayur Railway stations fallingin the state of Kerala have been identified for redevelopment under this scheme. This  scheme  envisages  development  of  stations  on  a  continuous basis with a long term approach. It involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at  the  stations  like  improvement  of  station  access,  circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like 'One Station One  Product', better passenger  information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc. keeping in view the necessity at each such station.

The  scheme  also  envisages  improvement  of  building,  integrating the  station  with  both  sides  of  the  city,  multimodal  integration, amenities  for  Divyangjans,  sustainable  and  environment  friendly solutions,  provision  of  ballast  less  tracks,  'Roof  Plazas'  as  per necessity,  phasing  and  feasibility  and  creation  of  city  centres  at the station in the long term.

Irinjalakkuda Railway Station is duly provided with essential amenities like waiting hall, shelter, drinking water, toilets, foot over bridge  etc.  as  per  norms.  Upgradation/modernisation  of  Railway station  is  a  continuous  and  ongoing  process  and  works  in  this regard  are  undertaken  as  per  requirement,  subject  to  inter-se priority and availability of funds. However, priority for upgradation/modernisation of station is accorded to higher category of  station  over  lower  category  of  station  while  sanctioning  and executing the work.

The  allocation of funds for  development  and  maintenance  of stations  are  maintained  Zonal  Railway-wise  and  not  work-wise  or Station-wise.  An  amount  of  ₹1242.58  crore  has  been  allocated  to Southern Railway under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities' for the year 2023-24 under which Guruvayur Railway Station falls.

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, encroachments, 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 . Therefore,  no  time  frame  can  be indicated at this stage .

A  work  for  construction  of  underpass  at  Guruvayur  (20  km  away from Thrissur railway station) under Thrissur Parliamentary

Constituency  has  been  taken  up  by  State  Government.  General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) for the same has been prepared.

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