THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIVISION Thiruvananthapuram Division, formed on 2nd October 1979, serves eight districts of the southern part of the Kerala state and some parts of Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu. With 104 stations in its territorial jurisdiction, it is the fourth largest out of six divisions in Southern Railway. The division is predominantly passenger oriented with an enviable record of one in eight stations coming under either A1 or A category. Three stations viz. Thiruvananthapuram central, Ernakulam Jn and Thrissur are classified under A1 Category with annual passenger earnings above 60 crores. Eight stationsviz. Alappuzha, in Kerala Aluva, region Chengannur, viz. ons served Ernakulam by Town, Kayankulam jn, Kollam Jn, Kottayamit, it has elevenand T‘A’iruvalla category and and twotwo ‘A1’stations in Tamil Nadu viz. Nagercoil and Kanniyakumaricategory stations. figure under ‘A’ Category with annual passenger earnings above Rs 8 crores but less than Rs 60 crores. Eighty six numbers of originating Express trains, 81 nos of passenger trains and eight originating freight trains are run on average per day. Highlights during the year 2016-17 Thiruvananthapuram division handled as many as 10.41 crore originating passengers during the year. Growth of 1.59% in passenger earnings and 1.96% in freight earnings were recorded vis-à-vis figures of the previous fiscal year. Annual passenger earnings had grown to Rs 1044.95 crores from Rs 1028.53 crores and freight earnings increased to Rs 362.49 crores from Rs 355.51 crores when compared to 2015-16. The cumulative earnings of the division under all heads is Rs 1557.99 crores, a marginal increase of 0.12% from Rs 1556.15 crores of the last fiscal year. Doubling of railway lines: The doubling of railway line between Tiruvalla and Chengannur and between Piravom Road and Kuruppanthara was completed in August 2016. The doubling of the stretch between Changanasseri and Tiruvalla was completed on 28.03.2017. New trains: Three new trains viz Train No 19332/331 Kochuveli - Indore Express (01.07.16), T. No 22838/837 Ernakulam Jn- Hatia Exp (03.11.16), T.No 22877/878 Ernakulam Jn –Howrah Antoydaya Express (04.03.17) were introduced. Special trains and coach augmentation: As many as 925 special trains were operated during the year which included 416 special trains during Sabarimala/ other festival seasons. Two special trains introduced during the year viz. Train No 06035/36 Ernakulam Jn- Rameswaram weekly special on Sundays and the Train No 06053/054 Kochuveli- Mangalore Jn running on Fridays from Kochuveli have been hugely popular with the passengers. The composition of 38 pairs of Mail/Express trains and 5 pairs of passenger trains were augmented permanently to meet the growing requirements. Infrastructural Improvements Passenger amenity works to the tune of Rs 10.62 crores were executed during the year 2016-17. The following infrastructural works were taken up during the year 2016-17. No Name of Work App Cost in Lakhs 1 Provision of Escalator (6 Nos) at Thiruvananthapurm Central, 420.00 Nagercoil Jn (PF 1), Ernakulam Jn(PF1), Aluva (PF 1) and Thrissur (PF 2/3) 2 Improvements to Retiring Rooms at Thiruvananthapuram Central 70.00 3 Cherthala improvements to Platform surface on Platform No 1 75.00 4 Ettumanur, Kottayam, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kayankulam - 130.00 Improvements to Circulating area and Parking area 5 Ernakulam Junction : Improvements to waiting hall 41.00 6 Neyyattinkara: Provision of Waiting hall 35.00 7 Rising of Platform No 2, Provision of waiting hall at Kazhakuttam 170.00 8 Provision of Foot over bridge (2 Nos) 5m wide at Kottayam & Thrissur 150.00 9 Extension of platform at Thrissur (1 coach length)& Kottayam (2 coach length) 10 Rising, paving & improvements to Platform No 1 at Chengannur 124.00 11 Thiruvananthapuram Central- Improvements to circulating area, 95.00 parking area etc Escalators New escalators were provided at Aluva, Ernakulam Jn, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram central in Kerala region during the year. While the facility at Aluva was inaugurated by Shri Innocent, Hon’ble Member of Parliament on 07.06.16, Shri. K.V.Thomas, Hon MP inaugurated the same at Ernakulam Jn on 16.08.2016. The Hon’ble Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the facility at Thrissur (through video conferencing) and Thiruvananthapuram Central on 26.06.2016. As many as seventeen escalators are now in service at various stations in the division Emergency Medical care facility Inauguration of Emergency medical care facility at Ernakulam Jn by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon MR and at Thrissur by Shri.V.S.Sunil kumar, Hon’ble Minister, Govt of Kerala. Free emergency medical care centre at Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam Jn in association with reputed private hospitals were commissioned during the year. The facility is meant to provide free medical assistance to bona-fide Railway passengers. The emergency medical Centres have all necessary basic life saving medical equipments such as defibrillator, cardiac resuscitating equipment, nebulizer and stretches with strap, wheeled trolley etc. Apart from other general medicines, life saving medicines is also stocked for providing emergency care. Skilled paramedical staff, i.e. one nurse who is holding degree in Nursing and one experienced Attendant will be available round the clock for rendering medical assistance. An attached free ambulance service for shifting passengers to hospitals is also available as part of service. Battery operated cars Battery operated cars for the use of aged, invalid and sick passengers has been provided at Trivandrum Central in association with M/s Envestnet on 24.08.2016. The contact . number of the battery operated car has been publicized for ease of use of such passengers. Exclusive women’s facilitation Centre: An exclusive women’s facilitation centre has been opened at Thiruvananthapuram Central to guide, ensure safety, security and comfort of women passengers travelling alone including mothers with infants and women senior citizens. Besides facilities for resting, drinking water, wheel chair, baby feeding enclosure, general enquiries, emergency telephone calls etc the lady passengers can avail service of RPF, coolie porters etc. Arrangements for availing prepaid auto service as well as taxi service are also available. Round the clock women’s helpline: An exclusive round the clock women’s helpline number has been provided in the division with number 9567869385. Women passengers anywhere in the division can make use of helpline number in any emergency. Provision of She toilets: Electronic self cleaning ‘She- toilet’ is an innovative product which requires minimal manual intervention for women and ensures privacy, dignity and safety. She- toilets have been provided at Thiruvananthapuram Central in association with Kerala State Woman’s Development Corporation. Complaints free Vehicle parking service through Kudumbasree This organization set up by the Govt of Kerala as part of State poverty eradication mission aims at women empowerment to achieve economic and social upliftment. This division has been exploring means of providing quality service to passengers in association with Kudumbasree. Complaints free vehicle parking services are provided at major stations in the division like Ernakulam Jn, Ernakulam Town, Cherthala, Kottayam, Aluva, Tripunitura & Thrissur (I & II) Entry). Premium parking facilities Premium parking facilities for short duration at Thiruvananthapuram central and Ernakulam Jn have been provided in association with Kudumbasree. AC Paid waiting halls Service of AC Paid waiting rooms were opened at Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Thrissur Railway stations with investment from Kudumbasree. Facilities for the passengers include Mini Library, premium quality fittings and furnishings, disinfected toilets, Kids play area, wash room, breast feeding enclosure, changing room for infants, train on call service, free Wi Fi etc and is managed round the clock by the Govt controlled Self Help Group by women. Renovated ladies waiting rooms Renovated ladies waiting rooms were inaugurated at Kollam Jn and Thiruvananthapuram Central with premium quality accessories and exclusive lactating area. First of its kind Improved Passenger Information Display: Provision of High Resolution LED based integrated passenger information System were introduced at Thiruvananthapuram central, Kollam, Ernakulam Jn and Thrissur through advertisement mode. The high quality display at Railway stations is the first of its kind with no capital investment from railways side. The facility is being extended to other stations like Kochuveli, Kazhakuttam, Varkala, Kayankulam, Alappuzha, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Changanasseri, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva and Guruvayur. Other infrastructural improvements through sponsorship : Major improvements in railway facility through sponsorship/private participation such as platform shelters at IPL station, provision of platform benches at halts like Korattiangadi, Purified drinking water facility- RO filtered- at Alapuzha in association with Rotary club, etc were organized during the year. RO Filtered drinking water facility at Alappuzha Infrastructural improvements through MPLAD Funds: Fifteen nos of additional benches at Pudukad through MPLADs of Shri.C.N.Jayadevan, Hon MP, 15 bays of platform shelter at Kayankulam Jn through MPLADs of Shri.K.C.Venugopal and 2 bays of platform shelter at Pudukad under MPLADs of Shri.C.N.Jayadevan were provided during the year. In