RailEnquiry

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The modernization of Thampanoor railway station got a fresh impetus with Union minister of state for human resources development Shashi Tharoor laying foundation stone for the work of four escalators, three passenger lifts, one foot over bridge and a sky walk connecting KSRTC stand with power house road entry of Thampanoor station on Saturday.Tharoor said that the tender proceedings have begun and the new facilities would bring remarkable changes to the railway station. These facilities will go a long way in the comfort of passengers and those who want to go from Thampanoor bus stand to East fort bus stand or Pazhavangadi, the railways said. The total estimated cost for the work is Rs 6.6 crore.Though the master plan has provisions for six escalators, work of only four will begin soon. "As the contractors demanded cost escalation, the estimate needed to be revised. Now, we could plan only four escalators with the fund allotted," said a senior railway official. Two escalators will be near the main entrance and the other two will come up at platforms.Modernization project is a joint initiative of the railways and tourism department. As per the plan, the proposed skywalk will have stairs on both sides on Thampanoor-Thycaud flyover road. "The two which had to be withheld for a while are the escalators planned to connect Thamapanoor and East Fort with the skywalk. In the second phase, these escalators will also be constructed", said the official.

The railways has also proposed two Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBS) counters at the entry point of the skywalk. Tharoor also reviewed the master plan on the project. Southern Railway general manager Rakesh Misra, divisional railway manager Rajesh Agrawal, additional divisional railway manager T Kuppan and senior officers from railways attended the function.