Title - Skywalk to link metro station

By Express News Service - KOCHI 07th February 2013 08:23 AM
With the proposed Kochi metro station  set to come up at the north-eastern side of the South Railway Station, the Railways along with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has proposed to set up skywalks connecting the two stations.

People who get down at the South railway  station can easily have access to the metro trains via the skywalk which will pass by the railway station, said Ernakulam Railway Area Manager P L Ashok Kumar.

An elaborate corridor connecting the parcel office of the railway station at the northern side is on the cards, says the proposal by the DMRC.There are also plans to set up a bus bay at the railway station to accommodate private and KSRTC buses. Currently, the buses which arrive at the station (especially during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season) are forced to park out of the station premises due to lack of space. The area which has been currently allotted for autorickshaws and taxis will be converted to bus bay.

Also, a special route will be designated for the pay-and-park autorickshaws to avoid overcrowding of vehicles at the station.

According to Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal the autorickshaws will be given permission to enter the station from the northern end, after which they will have to drop their passengers at the place where the prepaid counter is located and then leave the station from the southern side.

Currently, there is no proper system to monitor the auto drivers which in turn leads to ruction between passengers and drivers.

There are also plans to make the Ernakulam Junction Station disabled-friendly. Boards have been erected to demarcate ways which  should be pre-dominantly utilised by the physically-challenged. A special counter to help them will be soon set up.