Lok Sabha Question No. 612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Transfer of Kinathukkadavu and Pollachi Railway Stations to Salem Division
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.612

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## TRANSFER OF KINATHUKKADAVU AND POLLACHI RAILWAY STATIONS TO SALEM DIVISION

## 612. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received representations regarding  the  transfer  of  Kinathukkadavu  and  Pollachi  railway stations  from  Palakkad  Division  to  Salem  Division  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the action taken thereon;
- (b)  whether the Government is aware that the present divisional arrangement causes delay in infrastructure upgrades and passenger facilities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Union Government has conducted any feasibility study/consultation  with  the  State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  on the said demand;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of steps being taken to ensure equitable development for passengers in Coimbatore and Pollachi regions?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e):  Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations,  both formal and informal inter-alia for zonal/divisional jurisdiction changes  across  Indian  Railways  are  received  from  Members  of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc.

at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/complaints/suggestions is a  continuous  and  dynamic  process,  centralized  compendium  of such  requests  is  not  maintained.  However,  these  are  examined and action as  found  feasible  and  justified  is  taken  from  time  to time.

Vast  rail-network  of  Indian  Railways(IR)  has  been  divided  into zones  and  divisions. The  territorial jurisdiction of a railway zone/division  is  not  based  on  state/district  boundaries  and  the governing parameters for the same are operational/administrative requirements consistent with the needs of economy and efficiency.  Palakkad  division  is  currently  serving  the  needs  of lines within its jurisdiction, including Kinattukkadavu and Pollachi.

The present arrangement is working satisfactorily and the proposal  for  transfer  of  Kinattukkadavu  and  Pollachi  railway stations to Salem division, when examined in the light of above, has not been considered feasible at this stage.

Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme for  redevelopment  of  stations  with  a  long-term  approach.  The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation  in  phases  to  improve  the  stations.  The  master planning includes:

- Improvement of access to station and circulating areas
- Integration of station with both sides of city
- Improvement of station building
- Improvement of waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangement,

## water booths

- Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate with passenger traffic
- •
- Provision of lift/escalators/ramp
- Improvement  /Provision  of  platform  surface  and  cover  over platforms
- Provision  of  kiosks  for  local  products  through  schemes  like
- 'One Station One Product'
- Parking areas, Multimodal integration
- Amenities for divyangjans
- •
- Better passenger information systems
- Provision of executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings,  landscaping,  etc.  keeping  in  view  the  necessity  at each station.

environment friendly  solutions,  provision  of  ballastless  tracks  etc.  as  per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at

The scheme  also envisages sustainable and the station in the long term.

So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 77 stations including Pollachi  Junction,  Coimbatore  Junction,  Coimbatore  North  and Podanur Junction stations, are located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The  names  of  stations  identified  for  development  under  Amrit

Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu are as following:

| State      |   No. of Stations | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu |                77 | Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode Jn., Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari Terminus, Karaikkudi Jn, Karur Jn, Katpadi Jn, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn., Pollachi Jn, Polur, Pudukkottai, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St.Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn., Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tuticorin, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn., Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn. |

Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu have been taken up at a good pace.  Till  now,  works  of  9  stations  (Chidambaram,  Kulitturai, Mount, Tiruvannamalai and Vriddhachalam Jn.) in the state of Tamil Nadu have  been  completed  under  this  scheme.  The  works  at  other stations  have  also  been  taken  up  at  good  pace  and  progress  of

Mannargudi, Polur, Samalpatti, Srirangam, St.Thomas some of the stations is as given below:

- Pollachi  Junction  station:  The  works  of  new  station  building, platform  shelter,  waiting  hall,  toilet,  improvement  to  booking office,  air-conditioned  waiting  room,  circulating  area,  parking area, VIP lounge and Divyangjan facilities have been completed. The finishing works have been taken up.
- Coimbatore  North  station:  The  works  of  new  waiting  hall, platform  shelter,  lifts  and  parking  area  have  been  completed. The works of improvement of station building, circulating area, second entry booking office and landscaping have been taken up.
- Podanur Junction station: The works of improvement of waiting hall, circulating area,  parking  area,  new  reserved  lounge, booking  office  and  lifts  have  been  completed.  The  works  of improvement  of  station  building,  platform  surfacing,  platform shelter,  widening  of  platform  no.1,  lifts  and  6  m  Foot  Over Bridge have been taken up.
- Coimbatore Junction station is under master planning.

Master Planning is an iterative process requiring optimization and the time frame and other details for such optimization cannot be indicated at this stage.

Further, development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation  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  / redevelopment  / upgradation /  modernisation  of  stations  is  accorded  to  higher category  of station over  lower  category  of  station while sanctioning and executing the works.

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