Lok Sabha Question No. 522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Passenger holding Area Project at Ernakulam Junction
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 522

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## PASSENGER HOLDING AREA PROJECT AT ERNAKULAM JUNCTION

## 522.  SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the  Government has estimated the expected expenditure for establishing the Passenger Holding Area at Ernakulam Junction and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  the  proposed  facility  includes  features  such  as  seating arrangements, digital information displays, restrooms and food kiosks and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether it is a fact that such facilities like the one established at New Delhi  Railway  Station  have  significantly  eased  congestion  and  improved passenger  convenience  during  peak  travel  periods  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has set a specific timeline for the commencement of the project at Ernakulam Junction and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the time span expected for completion of the Passenger Holding Area project at Ernakulam Junction?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e):  The Passenger Holding area planning envisages a comfortable, well-organized  space  with  basic  amenities  like  seating, drinking water,

toilets, ticketing facilities, information displays, and security checks, etc. These amenities are planned to be organised to manage large passenger footfall efficiently during peak hours.

Ernakulam Junction Railway station has been identified for the development of passenger holding area. The development of the holding area  is  under  planning  stage,  which  is  an  iterative  process  requiring optimization and the time frame for such optimization cannot be indicated at this stage.

The passenger holding area established at New Delhi Railway Station has significantly helped to ease congestion and enhance passenger convenience, particularly  during  peak  travel  periods.  The  holding  area  is equipped  with  a  wide  range  of  commuter-friendly  facilities,  including  an increased number of ticket counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machine(ATVMs), public announcement system, electronic train information  display  boards,  CCTV  surveillance,  luggage  scanners,  Door Frame  Metal  Detector  (DFMDs),  uninterrupted  power  supply,  improved night-time  lighting,  High  Volume  Low  Speed  (HVLS)  fans,  fire-fighting system,  lightning  protection  system,  RO  drinking  water,  and  separate toilets  for  men,  women  and  Divyangians,  along  with  seating  capacity  for about 150 passengers.

Further,  Ministry  of  Railways  has  identified  Ernakulam  Junction  Railway station  as  one  of  the  stations  for  redevelopment  under  Amrit  Bharat Station Scheme.

At  Ernakulam  Junction  station,  the  foundations  work  of  east  terminal building, multi-level car parking and service building have been completed. The structural works of east terminal building, multi-level car parking and service building have been taken up. Further the structural works of office building, P-way depot and P-way office have also been completed, and the finishing works have been taken up. The foundation works of west terminal building have been taken up.

The Amrit Bharat Station 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, platform surfacing and cover  over  platform,  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 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 ballastless  tracks,  etc.  as  per  necessity,  phasing  and  feasibility  and creation of city centre at the station in the long term.

Development/upgradation  of  stations  on  Indian  Railways  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.    The priority  for  development/upgradation  of  stations  is  accorded  to  higher category of station over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works.

Development / upgradation of stations including under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities'. The details  of  allocation  under  Plan  Head-53  are  maintained  Zonal  Railwaywise and not work-wise or station-wise or State-wise. Ernakulam Junction railway station falls under the jurisdiction of Southern Railways for which a total allocation of ₹1122 crores (Budget Estimate) has been made for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head-53.

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

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