Union Ministers from the State must step in so that Southern Railway proactively develops Ernakulam Railway Goods (ERG) station into a passenger terminus, former Supreme Court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer said on Thursday.
He was speaking at the station premises at a people’s convention organised by the Old Railway Station Vikasana Samithi. The jurist said the heritage station had the potential to decongest railway stations in the city and to augment rail connectivity in the region.
‘Centre apathetic’ In his address, P. Rajeev, MP, deplored alleged attempts being made to derail the development of the station.
“Following mass movements from several quarters demanding the renovation of the station, the Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager was transferred out. This must be read with the statement of Southern Railway General Manager that reviving the station was not feasible. The Centre was apathetic to developmental projects like this in Kerala,”he said.
No to PPP He was critical of statements made by politicians calling for developing the station through the Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode. “Everyone must fight unitedly for developing commuting modes. Kochi Metro’s execution was entrusted with DMRC because of massive public opinion. Similarly, ERG station can be revived soon if there was mass agitation,” Mr. Rajeev said.
Film-maker Sibi Malayil, veteran trade union leader M.M. Lawrence, literary critic M.K. Sanoo and representatives of residents associations’ apex councils were also present.
