Evening peak hours at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station have become a daily ordeal, marked by severe overcrowding and poor management that puts thousands of commuters at significant risk. The situation escalates daily around 5 PM when hundreds of office-goers crowd the foot overbridge, awaiting last-call announcements for their delayed trains.
A Recipe for Disaster During Peak Hours
The core of the problem lies in the frequent and unpredictable delays of key commuter trains between 5:30 PM and 5:55 PM. Despite having fixed schedules, services like the Kanniyakumari–Punalur passenger, scheduled for 5:30 PM, often arrive only by 5:40 PM. This is closely followed by the Vanchinad Express at 5:45 PM and the Thiruvananthapuram–Kollam passenger at 5:55 PM. With trains departing in quick succession and often behind schedule, passengers are left in a state of confusion.
Advance announcements about revised departure times are frequently not made, forcing commuters to wait on the foot overbridge and its stairways instead of proceeding to the platforms. When an announcement is finally made, it triggers a simultaneous rush of people down the stairs, creating a chaotic and hazardous scramble.
"A Stampede-Like Situation Could Occur"
Travelers bound for key destinations like Kollam, Kottayam, and Ernakulam are among the most affected. Liyons J of the passenger advocacy group Friends of Rail highlighted the grave danger. "This scenario is dangerous. There is no crowd management. If one person trips and falls, it could trigger a stampede-like situation," he warned.
The urgency to board the first departing train is driven by the cascading effect of delays. Late departures from the central station lead to further delays en route, significantly increasing overall travel time and causing weary passengers to reach home much later. While punctuality is somewhat maintained at origin and destination stations, trains consistently lose time at intermediate stops due to route congestion and inadequate track infrastructure.
Repeated Requests and Inconsistent Response
Activists have consistently urged railway authorities to improve communication. "We have repeatedly asked the railways to make advance announcements about departure times. They know when a train will reach the station and how long it needs to be detained," added Liyons. However, the implementation remains sporadic. For instance, on a recent Thursday, the Thiruvananthapuram–Kollam passenger was delayed by a full half-hour without adequate prior notice.
This neglect is stark given the station's importance. Thiruvananthapuram Central is one of the region's busiest hubs, handling close to 40,000 passengers daily and generating the highest revenue. Despite this, basic amenities and systematic crowd control measures that could drastically improve passenger safety and convenience continue to be overlooked. The chronic congestion along the route only underscores the pressing need for comprehensive and systematic improvements to prevent a potential tragedy.
