Parliament Question: Transfer of Kinathukkadavu and Pollachi Railway Stations to Salem Division

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.612 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025 TRANSFER OF KINATHUKKADAVU AND POLLACHI RAILWAY STATIONS TO SALEM DIVISION 612. SHRI ESWARASAMY K: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has received representations regarding the transfer of Kinathukkadavu and Pollachi railway stations from Palakkad Division to Salem Division and if so, the details thereof and if not, the action taken thereon; (b) whether the Government is aware that the present divisional arrangement causes delay in infrastructure upgrades and passenger facilities and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Union Government has conducted any feasibility study/consultation with the State Government of Tamil Nadu on the said demand; (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) the details of steps being taken to ensure equitable development for passengers in Coimbatore and Pollachi regions? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e): Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and informal inter-alia for zonal/divisional jurisdiction changes across Indian Railways are received from Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc. Contd…2/--2- at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/complaints/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time. Vast rail-network of Indian Railways(IR) has been divided into zones and divisions. The territorial jurisdiction of a railway zone/division is not based on state/district boundaries and the governing parameters for the same are operational/administrative requirements consistent with the needs of economy and efficiency. Palakkad division is currently serving the needs of lines within its jurisdiction, including Kinattukkadavu and Pollachi. The present arrangement is working satisfactorily and the proposal for transfer of Kinattukkadavu and Pollachi railway stations to Salem division, when examined in the light of above, has not been considered feasible at this stage. Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for redevelopment of stations with a long-term approach. The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation in phases to improve the stations. The master planning includes: • Improvement of access to station and circulating areas • Integration of station with both sides of city • Improvement of station building • Improvement of waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangement, Contd…3/--3- water booths • Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate with passenger traffic • Provision of lift/escalators/ramp • Improvement /Provision of platform surface and cover over platforms • Provision of kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’ • Parking areas, Multimodal integration • Amenities for divyangjans • Better passenger information systems • Provision of executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station. The scheme also envisages 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. So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 77 stations including Pollachi Junction, Coimbatore Junction, Coimbatore North and Podanur Junction stations, are located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu are as following: Contd…4/--4- State No. of Name of Stations Stations Tamil 77 Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Nadu Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode Jn., Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari Terminus, Karaikkudi Jn, Karur Jn, Katpadi Jn, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn., Pollachi Jn, Polur, Pudukkottai, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St.Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn., Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tuticorin, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn., Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn. Contd…5/--5- Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu have been taken up at a good pace. Till now, works of 9 stations (Chidambaram, Kulitturai, Mannargudi, Polur, Samalpatti, Srirangam, St.Thomas Mount, Tiruvannamalai and Vriddhachalam Jn.) in the state of Tamil Nadu have been completed under this scheme. The works at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the stations is as given below: • Pollachi Junction station: The works of new station building, platform shelter, waiting hall, toilet, improvement to booking office, air-conditioned waiting room, circulating area, parking area, VIP lounge and Divyangjan facilities have been completed. The finishing works have been taken up. • Coimbatore North station: The works of new waiting hall, platform shelter, lifts and parking area have been completed. The works of improvement of station building, circulating area, second entry booking office and landscaping have been taken up. • Podanur Junction station: The works of improvement of waiting hall, circulating area, parking area, new reserved lounge, booking office and lifts have been completed. The works of improvement of station building, platform surfacing, platform shelter, widening of platform no.1, lifts and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up. • Coimbatore Junction station is under master planning. Master Planning is an iterative process requiring optimization and the time frame and other details for such optimization cannot be indicated at this stage. Contd…6/--6- Further, development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation 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 / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of stations is accorded to higher category of station over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works. *****