The railway is begging for MP funds to provide the COP
S.Rly: Instead of COP, is the construction of ORH necessary!
Building an ORH in the name of 85% completed doubling work
Trivandrum: In Kerala, major railway stations don’t have the cover over platform (COP) and the railway is begging for MP funds to provide the same. But at the same time, they don’t have any dearth of money when it comes to their own amenities. The railway is going ahead with the construction of a new officers rest house (ORH) at Ernakulam Jn. where existing officers rest house is lying vacant with 15 AC rooms most of the time.
Talking to the ‘Rail Samachar’, a railwayman said ‘the new officers’ rest house is mainly for the construction department. And that too the building is constructed on the pretext of doubling project between kuruppanthara and Chingavanam which was started way back in 2003.’ In 2018 the railway is building an officer’s rest house in the name of 85% completed doubling work, he said.
The money spent on this project if put as fixed deposit in banks that interest amount is enough to provide five-star accommodation for higher railway officials coming from Chennai on vacation trips to Kerala. This is not the first time the Southern Railway is spending money on officers welfare alone.
In Aluva railway station permanent way office is provided with 6 toilets. As JEs sitting in adjacent rooms don’t want to share their toilets. In Ernakulam Jn., there are only 4 toilets for 25 to 30,000 daily passengers who arrive at the station. Many passengers told to the ‘Rail Samachar’.
Deputy financial office of construction wing recently beautified its premise by putting tiles and a new lift has been commissioned exclusively for the office. In Ernakulam Jn. there is no complete shelter in all 6 platforms.
In Ernakulam Town station there is no VRR and roof in two platforms. The revenue from Ernakulam Jn. is 163 crores during 2017-18. But no money is spent on passenger amenities and local MPs are time and again requested by railway officials to provide money from their local development fund.