If all goes well, Edappally’s long-pending dream of a Railway Overbridge (RoB) will materialise soon. Rajesh Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager of Thiruvananthapuram, told reporters here on Monday that the construction of the RoB will kick off within a few months.
“We have entrusted the blue print of the design to the Roads and Bridges Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK). The RBDCK officials said that they would give us the finalised design by next week. Once we receive it, we are hopeful to make the proposal a reality,” Agarwal said.
He was speaking after the inauguration of a new railway counter at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) on Monday.
Speaking about the Edappally RoB, Agarwal added that the earlier design made for it had to be withdrawn. “There were mistakes in the design as it was not done effectively. That is why we have asked for a detailed design this time,” he said.
According to residents here, the demand for the RoB was first raised six years ago, by the Residents’ Welfare Associations. “The number of patients who arrive at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) has increased tremendously in the past few years. To reach the hospital, people have to cross the railway tracks, which is highly dangerous. Keeping all this in mind, the concept of the RoB was born,” said Francis K A, Ernakulam District Residents’ Association Apex Council Treasurer.
As per the plan, ambulances and other vehicles can travel through the bridge, which will start from Ponekkara and end near the main entrance of AIMS. However, it won’t be wide enough to accommodate a bus or a lorry. The 254-metre bridge will cover a width of 7.5 metres. Residents of the area have urged for the speedy construction of the RoB. “Nearly seven deaths have occurred in a span of just five months on the railway tracks. Most of those who died are usually bystanders or relatives of the patients,” Francis added.
Railway Reservation Counter
Unreserved tickets will be distributed from the new railway counter which was launched at AIMS on Monday. The counter, which will function on a franchise-basis, will be manned by the staff of AIMS. “Hopefully, the counter will start issuing reserved tickets too, within three weeks’ time,” AIMS officials said. According to the officials, the new
counter will be highly beneficial for Edappally residents and patients and staff at AIMS.
Meanwhile, the Edappally Vikasana Samithi has highlighted the need to interlink the disconnected portion of the road in front of the railway station, to make it more accessible to passengers.
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