Source – https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-madurai-railway-junction-redevelopment-gains-momentum-know-all-about-parking-facilities-progress-and-subway-proposal-3333900/
Publisher- Financial Express
The redevelopment work at Madurai railway junction in Tamil Nadu is gaining momentum, according to the recent information provided by the Ministry of Railways. The roof and ground slab shuttering work at the railway junction is in progress and the existing platform shelter is being removed. Once the upgrade is complete, the station will be equipped with varied passenger amenities.
Madurai Railway Junction: Roadmap to redevelopment
The plan envisions the construction of two terminals, situated on the Eastern and Western sides, along with the development of three multi-level parking structures. These parking facilities comprise two structures on the eastern side and one on the western side. Additionally, there is a proposal for a subway linking the Railway Plot and Periyar Bus Stand, a dedicated Foot Over Bridge (FOB) to facilitate parcel movement, and the installation of two Skywalks connecting the parking facilities on the eastern side.
Madurai Railway Junction redevelopment: Work executed so far
Madurai Junction, categorized as NSG-2, serves as a crucial railhead for the renowned ‘Temple Town’ of Madurai, home to the famous Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple. Managing a daily influx of 96 trains, the station witnesses an average of 51,296 passengers every day. Its significance extends beyond local commuting, drawing numerous tourists from both across India and internationally. The redevelopment tasks that have been completed thus far at the Madurai station include:
– Initial tasks, including mapping, topographical surveys, soil investigations, traffic surveys, tree inventories, and a joint assessment of movable and immovable assets, have already been concluded, with ongoing validation.
– Relocation of materials and facilities have been successfully executed to facilitate the redevelopment.
– The construction of offices for contractors is currently underway.
Multi-level Parking facilities
To address both current and future demands for vehicular parking, the redevelopment project includes plans for three parking structures, namely:
– East Side Multilevel CarParking Building-G+2 building- 9,430 sq.m
– East Side Multilevel Two-Wheeler Parking Building-G+3 building-2,822 sq.m
– West Side Multilevel Car Parking Building- G+1 building- 2,580 sq.m
Subway proposal connecting Periyar bus terminal and railway premises
Moreover, to ensure the secure transfer of passengers to and from the Periyar Bus Terminal, there is a proposal for a subway that will link the basement of the bus terminal with the railway premises. The primary goal is to separate departure and arrival corridors, fostering seamless traffic flow through enhanced inter-modal connectivity. Additionally, approach roads are slated for development to improve the movement of passenger vehicles.
Southern Railway Network redeveloping 9 stations
Station redevelopment stands as a primary focus for Southern Railway in its endeavor to elevate the passenger experience. Nine stations within the Southern Railway network are slated for comprehensive transformation as part of this initiative. Among these, Madurai Junction is actively undergoing redevelopment, with progress steadily advancing.
