Redevelopment work at Kollam railway station in Keralam leaves festival commuters in chaos

As the festive Onam rush intensifies, commuters at Kollam railway station are facing significant challenges due to ongoing redevelopment work. This has led to widespread confusion, misplaced amenities, and hazardous infrastructure. The old administrative blocks have been demolished to make way for new structures, leading to ticket counters, information centres, and automatic ticket vending machines being relocated to a temporary facility at the main entrance.

Unfortunately, the absence of directional signage has left first-time travelers disoriented while searching for basic services. This issue is particularly pronounced for those arriving via the station's second entrance. Due to the demolition of the secondary ticketing booth for construction, passengers must traverse across platforms, laden with luggage, simply to purchase a ticket.

S. Suresh, a commuter from Kundara, remarks, "Many of us arriving through the second entrance have to navigate across platforms carrying luggage just to get a ticket."

The construction work has also undermined basic safety standards and passenger assistance throughout the station. Currently, there are no digital coach-position indicator boards, forcing passengers to run back and forth along dark, poorly lit platforms to locate their designated compartments. Aneesha Ravi, a resident of Kollam, shares her frustration, saying, "The station redevelopment project has already missed its original deadline.

Given the current pace of work, it's uncertain how much longer we must endure this chaos. As a season ticket holder who commutes daily through this station, the festive rush has turned my daily commute into an absolute ordeal."

Passengers have also noted the absence of essential facilities such as proper waiting rooms and restrooms, which have been dismantled without sufficient temporary replacements. The station premises are described as chaotic, with broken surfaces that frequently cause trips and falls. J. Liyons of Friends on Rails, a collective representing thousands of daily train commuters in Keralam, suggests that installing automated ticket vending machines near the second entrance and establishing proper display boards could significantly alleviate the strain on everyday commuters.