MP cites need for skywalks to link Ernakulam Town, Thripunithura railway stations with adjacent metro stops

Citing the need for a skywalk to seamlessly connect Ernakulam Town and Thripunithura railway stations—both of which are being redeveloped—with the adjacent Kochi metro stations, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden has written to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) managing director Loknath Behera, seeking the metro agency’s technical assistance for the skywalk projects.

“Skywalks or link bridges between the two modes of public transport are very important, especially since Ernakulam Town station is being redeveloped under a ₹150-crore project, while Thripunithura station was redeveloped for ₹4.97 crore. The Southern Railway had expressed its readiness to build a skywalk or link bridge to improve last-mile connectivity with the metro stations adjacent to Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town railway stations. However, I was informed that the Railway requires technical assistance from external agencies to establish such a link with Ernakulam Town station, which could be facilitated with the support and expertise of KMRL,” Mr. Eden said in his letter dated June 19.

Thripunithura station

Referring to the absence of a dedicated skywalk connecting Thripunithura railway station with the adjacent metro station as a shortcoming that diminished the potential utility of the two public transport infrastructure projects, Mr. Eden said a KMRL initiative in this regard would greatly benefit commuters using both transit modes and, in turn, boost passenger footfall.

He further recommended that KMRL initiate discussions with Southern Railway at the earliest to explore the feasibility of the skywalk projects. A joint meeting of officials from KMRL, the Railway, local bodies, and MLAs must be convened to chart out a concrete plan of action, since the intermodal linkages could serve as a model for integrated urban transport and significantly enhance the commuting experience in Kochi, he said.