The air concourse will be connected to the South Metro station with a skywalk
Similar facilities are also planned for Ernakulam Town (North), Thrissur, Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram Central,” a senior railway official said. High-capacity escalators, elevators, and staircases will deliver passengers directly to their boarding points,” the official said. Kochi: The construction of air concourses has started at Ernakulam Junction (South) railway station, following the completion of preliminary utility shifting and underground cable realignments. Rail air concourses are different from traditional FOBs. The air concourse provides a wider, fully enclosed overhead plaza built directly above the station platforms. Almost similar in appearance to airport facilities, a railway air concourse prioritises smooth passenger movement, keeping oncoming and outgoing crowds separated to eliminate platform congestion. An airport concourse, though, is much longer and extends from a central terminal building to provide access to aircraft boarding gates. The elevated overhead structure of the rail air concourse is planned at a width of 25m, connecting all six platforms at Ernakulam Junction. In comparison, the station’s existing foot over bridge (FOB) measures just 5m in width. “The air concourse is set to come up at Kollam Junction railway station too. “Passengers can comfortably wait for trains. The facility will eliminate platform overcrowding.
The air concourse will be completed along with Ernakulam Junction redevelopment works, which are slated to be completed by March 2028,” the official added. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
“The redeveloped Ernakulam Junction station will operate as a fully integrated multi-modal transit center, interlinking rail operations, metro transport, and multi-level parking facilities within a single complex,” the official added. Designed to mirror modern airport terminal operations, the air-conditioned concourse will feature passenger lounges, waiting areas, modern washroom facilities, commercial retail stalls, and dedicated food and beverage courts. The project also incorporates direct skywalk links that will connect the air concourse with the nearby Ernakulam South Metro station, multi-level car parking (MLCP) structures, and new multi-storey terminal buildings rising at both the eastern and western entries of the station. “We’ve completed the preliminary construction activities, including shifting of shelter wiring (electrical cables along platform canopies and steel structures, besides underground cables at the designated site). Southern Railway has speeded up the Ernakulam Junction redevelopment project after appointing a new contractor. The six-storey MLCP facility is slated to be opened by the end of this year. Download the TOI App.