New foot overbridges have been proposed at busy stations in north Kerala, including Kannur, Vadakara and Kasaragod, under the Palakkad division in the Union Budget.
Overall, ₹450 crore has been set aside for foot overbridges and extension and raising and improvement of platforms in Southern Railway. Funds of ₹68.28 crore have been allotted this year, and they are aimed at improving and modifying passenger amenities, officials said.
Projects have been sanctioned for combing works at various locations. A sum of ₹68.91 lakh had been allotted for platform shelter work at Vadakara and Kasaragod stations last year.
In addition, ₹300 crore has been approved for soft upgrades and improvements at stations for the Southern Railway. Soft upgrades include charging points, seats, benches, façade, landscaping, drinking water facility, parking, and signages at stations.
The division-wise distribution of umbrella funds will be decided at a meeting to be held at the zonal headquarters in Chennai shortly. Giving the umbrella sanction in such a manner gives more flexibility to the zonal railway to prioritise works. This system was adopted in the Railway Budget for the first time, they said.
The Budget has sanctioned 2,859 escalators at a cost of ₹2,859 crore for escalator and 1,000 lifts at 500 stations at a cost of ₹404 crore for the entire Indian Railways. A total of 21 road overbridges in Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram divisions have been sanctioned ₹350 crore.
As regards track works, the Budget allotment for 2017-18 is ₹175 crore. The tentative targets for 2018-19 are 120 km of sleeper renewals and 160 km of rail renewals, apart from 170 sets of points and crossing renewal. The requirement of funds in 2018-19 will be more than that in 2017-18.
A satellite track machine depot has been sanctioned at Palakkad Town. Each division is required to have one depot for maintenance and overhauling of track machines. One mechanised track relaying machine was commissioned in December, 2017. Second track relaying machine is also likely to be commissioned in next 15 to 20 days.
The development of the MEMU shed at Palakkad has an allotment of ₹2.15 crore for this year. The extension of civil work was begun only in January.
