Thiruvananthapuram: Railways will upgrade Varkala and Kanyakumari railway stations .
Both the stations have been re-categorized as ‘non-suburban group 4’ stations. Earlier, Varkala and Kanyakumari stations were under the categories of B and A class stations respectively, based on annual passenger earnings.
The new categorization is based on the earnings, passenger footfall and strategic importance, with a view to improve passenger services and amenities at stations in a more effective and focused manner.
Earlier, the stations were categorised into 7, namely A-1, A, B, C, D, E and F. Now, the stations are divided into 3 groups, non-suburban (NS), suburban (S) and halt (H), with further division in grades.
The NSG 4 category comprise of stations with annual passenger earnings between Rs 10 to 20 crore and passenger movement of 20 lakh to 50 lakh. The passenger earnings for 2016-17 at
Varkala railway station is Rs 9,81,91,005 and passenger movement is 37,76,071, while Kanyakumari station received Rs 18,37,80,622 as passenger earnings and 6,95,368 was the passengers movement reported from the station.
The new categorization of the stations, follows the directive from railway ministry, in which general managers were given the authority to categorize a station as NSG-4 category, if it is a place of tourist importance or is an important junction station.
The Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station (A1 Class) has been included in the NSG 2 category with annual passenger earning of Rs 1,84,48,16,371 and number of passengers at 1,43,63,426.
According to a railway official, the revised categories will benefit in the development of the small stations with good passenger movement. “The stations under Thiruvananthapuram division are categorised under NSG and HG classification. The stations categorized based on tourism destination, will be upgraded with additional passenger amenities. We have been informed that the re-categorization of stations will improve the amenities in the railway stations. But, a direction in this regard is awaited from railways,” said the official.
Irrespective of categories, railways have decided to provide foot-over-bridge, high-level platform and trolley path in all stations. And based on the categories, waiting halls, platform shelters, escalators, digital charts display, illumination and train and coach indication board will be provided to lower category stations.
Under the new system stations are categorized as Kollam Junction (NSG 3), Nagercoil Junction (NSG 3), Kochuveli (NSG 3), Neyyatinkara (NSG 5), Balaramapuram (NSG 6), Kazhakkoottam (NSG 5), Nemom (NSG 6), Parassala (NSG 5) and Pettah (NSG 6).
Varkala railway station