Thiruvananthapuram: The long-awaited first phase of the Thiruvananthapuram South railway terminal at Nemom is likely to be commissioned by the end of March 2027, a major step towards easing congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central.“Nearly 70% of the work has been completed. The main building structure is nearing completion, while the pit lines and stabling lines are also progressing. We are working towards commissioning the terminal by the end of March 2027,” said a railway official associated with the construction.Railway sources said work had picked up considerably in recent months, with supporting infrastructure taking shape. The tracks within the terminal are expected to be completed by the end of Jan 2027, and recruitment of staff to operate the terminal by March 2027.The terminal will have four platforms and five tracks, including a stabling line, along with ticket counters, toilets, cloakrooms and waiting lounges. The approach road is also being developed.A notable feature will be a subway connecting platforms two, three and four. At most stations, passengers depend on foot overbridges to move between platforms. Lifts and escalators are also being installed to help elderly passengers and those with mobility difficulties.Meanwhile, the railways is pursuing the second phase of the project, estimated to cost around Rs 99 crore. The proposal, examined by Southern Railway’s finance department, is to be forwarded to the railway board for approval. It envisages two additional pit lines for train maintenance and three stabling lines, which would strengthen the terminal’s capacity to handle and maintain long-distance trains. If approval comes without further delay, these facilities could be completed alongside the first phase.The railways is considering shifting selected long-distance services, particularly northbound trains, to Nemom. These trains are expected to retain a stop at Thiruvananthapuram Central so that passengers travelling to the city are not inconvenienced. A final decision on train allocation and scheduling is expected in the first quarter of 2027.There have also been demands to extend trains now terminating at Thiruvananthapuram North (Kochuveli), including the Mysuru and Nilambur services, to Nemom, and to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper services from the terminal to Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru.The proposal to develop Nemom as a coaching terminal dates back several years, and the foundation stone was laid in March 2019. Land acquisition issues and changes to the project plan delayed execution. The revised project was sanctioned in April 2023 at an estimated cost of Rs 116.57 crore and includes the station building, platforms, pit lines, stabling facilities, service buildings and the approach road.
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