The modernisation initiative at the railway station here, where many Sabarimala-bound devotees alight, has got a shot in the arm with the inauguration of two escalators.
Inaugurating the functioning of the escalators, Jose K. Mani, MP, said the new system would be a boon to the elderly. It would also help to bring down the overcrowding of the platform during the rush hours and the pilgrim seasons, as movement would be speedier, he said.
The escalators, constructed at a cost of Rs.2.60 crore, have been set just on the opposite side of the existing flight of steps to the platform. Mr. Mani said originally the Railways had sanctioned only one set of escalators. This was on Platform No.1. However, repeated requests helped to have another on Platform No. 2.
While there were apprehensions that the construction of the second set would be delayed, the intervention from the higher authorities have helped the speedy implementation of the project so that both the escalators on both the platforms could be opened for the public much before the onset of the Sabarimala pilgrim season, Mr Mani said.
Senior Section Engineer (Electrical) Mathew Joseph, Senior Section Engineer (Works) Gopakumar, Transportation Inspector Rajan Nainan, Station Manager Salim and others were present on the occasion.