Redevelopment work under way at Tiruchi railway junction

The Southern Railway has taken up the work of redeveloping Tiruchi railway junction - a major station in the zone - aimed at improving infrastructure and to ease congestion.

The redevelopment works have been taken up in phases at a cost of ₹27 crore.

Tiruchi is one among the major stations in the country identified by the railway administration for upgrading facilities.

Improvements in the subway, landscaping, improvement in platform flooring, booking office and reservation counter, establishment of storm water drain, improvements to arch at the main entry, resurfacing of main entry road, improvements in illumination, additional entry building with booking office, toilets and concourse, improvements to facade and extended covered pathway up to the station are among the slew of works proposed to be carried out.

A railway official said improvements to the facade, subway, platforms and the circulating area has been taken up under phase-I with the work having commenced in right earnest.

“It is expected to be completed by next month. The plan is to thereafter take up works relating to additional entry building, second entry new building with toilet block and parking facility under the second phase. These works are expected to be completed by June,” he said.

Improvement to the green cover is planned with landscaping at the Junction where a new portico is to come up at the main entrance.

It was being done to facilitate free and fast movement of passengers at Tiruchi Junction which is a ‘A’ category station. The objective is to give a thrust to station infrastructure and passenger amenities to benefit rail travellers, said the official.

The railway authorities have also planned a new platform at Kallukuzhi second entry side of the station with shelter and toilet under the redevelopment project. This was to be done to benefit passengers coming from the Kallukuzhi side.

Availability of a new platform would reduce waiting time for incoming trains, said the official.