![]() In 2004, a second terminal was opened at the Trivandrum Central railway station in order to manage the increasing traffic that the station was experiencing for last few years. This newer part of the station is completely Wi-Fi enabled. Like other railway stations, the Trivandrum Central railway station has book-shops, restaurants, accommodation, Internet browsing centres and even a necessary commodities shopping mall. In 2005, a second satellite station was opened near the International Airport at Kochuveli. Trivandrum Central railway station is the second longest train route in the world, from Kanyakumari to Jammu. Trivandrum Central railway station on an average daily caters to 200,000 passengers. Like other major railway stations, Trivandrum Central railway station also has facilities like- book stalls, rooms for daily rent, rest rooms, etc. Some new facilities are being incorporated in the railway station like- air-conditioned dormitory, improved and extended parking and new pedestrian entry. The parking area is about 5,500 m². An additional 400 m² covered area has been added to the parking area. ![]() In the first phase in 1931, Trivandrum Central railway station was built to handle just two departures per day. But today it handles more than 30 departure per day. Since the last sixty years, the station is experiencing a boom in the passenger traffic. But without much of alteration of the main structure, the station manages traffic and passengers with ease. In the initial period the station had only one platform. But today it has eight platforms. The station features 8 platforms to manage long distance trains and short distance trains. To the other side of the main entrance there is a second terminal. The train care centre functions adjacent to the second terminal. Recently, a decision was taken by the Indian railways to upgrade the Trivandrum Central railway station to world-class standards. In December 2006 the Union Minister for Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav laid the foundation stone for the expansion and modernisation of the station. It has been estimated that more than Rs.100 crores will be needed for the first phase of the project. A new complex of the railway station will be built with a built-up area of 1,000,000 square feet. All modern facilities will be incorporated in the station, including an office and commercial complex. Another proposal to set up a suburban terminal at Nemom or Putharikandam maidan is also in the pipeline. It is calculated that since the project is a massive one only a syndicate would be able to take up the expansion project of Trivandrum Central |