Parliament Question: Passenger holding Area Project at Ernakulam Junction

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 522 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025 PASSENGER HOLDING AREA PROJECT AT ERNAKULAM JUNCTION 522. SHRI HIBI EDEN: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has estimated the expected expenditure for establishing the Passenger Holding Area at Ernakulam Junction and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b) whether the proposed facility includes features such as seating arrangements, digital information displays, restrooms and food kiosks and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether it is a fact that such facilities like the one established at New Delhi Railway Station have significantly eased congestion and improved passenger convenience during peak travel periods and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government has set a specific timeline for the commencement of the project at Ernakulam Junction and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) the time span expected for completion of the Passenger Holding Area project at Ernakulam Junction? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e): The Passenger Holding area planning envisages a comfortable, well-organized space with basic amenities like seating, drinking water, …2/--2- toilets, ticketing facilities, information displays, and security checks, etc. These amenities are planned to be organised to manage large passenger footfall efficiently during peak hours. Ernakulam Junction Railway station has been identified for the development of passenger holding area. The development of the holding area is under planning stage, which is an iterative process requiring optimization and the time frame for such optimization cannot be indicated at this stage. The passenger holding area established at New Delhi Railway Station has significantly helped to ease congestion and enhance passenger convenience, particularly during peak travel periods. The holding area is equipped with a wide range of commuter-friendly facilities, including an increased number of ticket counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machine(ATVMs), public announcement system, electronic train information display boards, CCTV surveillance, luggage scanners, Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMDs), uninterrupted power supply, improved night-time lighting, High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) fans, fire-fighting system, lightning protection system, RO drinking water, and separate toilets for men, women and Divyangians, along with seating capacity for about 150 passengers. Further, Ministry of Railways has identified Ernakulam Junction Railway station as one of the stations for redevelopment under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. …3/--3- At Ernakulam Junction station, the foundations work of east terminal building, multi-level car parking and service building have been completed. The structural works of east terminal building, multi-level car parking and service building have been taken up. Further the structural works of office building, P-way depot and P-way office have also been completed, and the finishing works have been taken up. The foundation works of west terminal building have been taken up. The Amrit Bharat Station scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. It involves preparation of master plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, platform surfacing and cover over platform, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station. The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks, etc. as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term. Development/upgradation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds. The priority for development/upgradation of stations is accorded to higher category of station over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works. …4/-- 4 - Development / upgradation of stations including under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The details of allocation under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway- wise and not work-wise or station-wise or State-wise. Ernakulam Junction railway station falls under the jurisdiction of Southern Railways for which a total allocation of ₹1122 crores (Budget Estimate) has been made for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head-53. Further, development/redevelopment/upgradation of Railway Stations is complex in nature involving safety of passengers & trains and requires various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress also gets affected due to brown field related challenges such as shifting of utilities, (involving water/sewage lines, optical fiber cables, gas pipe lines, power/signal cables etc.,) infringements, operation of trains without hindering passenger movement, speed restrictions due to works carried out in close proximity of high voltage power lines etc. and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage. *****