Piling work is underway at Ernakulam Junction railway station under redevelopment to upgrade it to global standards. , Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
Removal of portions of the Ernakulam Town railway station building, required under Phase-I of the ₹150 crore redevelopment work, has been completed, while the railway’s parcel office and other offices have been shifted. Construction work started last year.
In addition, removal of platform shelter on platform one to make way for 12 meter wide Foot Overbridge (FOB) has been completed while piling for Multi Level Car Parking (MLCP) has started. Utility shifting and other preparatory works are in progress.
A total of 18 staff quarters were demolished for the construction of MLCP and provision of alternate accommodation for the residents. Railway sources said the load test on the test pile has been completed and piling work has started.
Work is in progress for a multi-level car parking facility at Ernakulam Town railway station as part of the station redevelopment project. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants have also been commissioned for construction work. Piling work for the new residential tower coming up at Ernakulam Junction is nearing completion, with 69 piles out of 73 completed.
Other works done so far or in progress include topographic, drone and utility surveys and soil investigation, while the right of way for all the works had been handed over.
The station building is proposed to be redeveloped as a “Green Building” complying with the standards prescribed under the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). As part of the station redevelopment, the existing building will be replaced by a new west terminal building which will be demolished in three phases.
The three-storey west terminal will have waiting rooms for passengers with facilities such as restaurants, retail outlets, toilets, and dedicated arrival and departure corridors. An air concourse with skywalk connectivity will also be created.
The redevelopment work was awarded as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to M/s Rank Projects & Development Pvt Ltd. Ltd. in August 2022. The redevelopment project should be completed in August 2023. Project Management Services for the work M/s RV Associates Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, for ₹ 5.92 crore.