Century-old footbridge at Shornur Junction to be replaced with new structure

Shornur: The century-old footbridge at Shornur Junction railway station, which had long been closed for renovation, is finally being dismantled.

The bridge is being taken down following an inspection by the Railway Bridges Wing, which confirmed that the century-old structure had outlived its lifespan. Parts of the bridge were removed years ago, and the initial plan was to erect a new bridge on the existing iron pillars. However, a fresh assessment found the pillars too unstable, prompting the authorities to opt for a complete demolition. Once the old structure is removed, a wider footbridge will be built in its place.

The proposed bridge will provide significantly more space, allowing a larger number of passengers to move across simultaneously. Shornur Junction, one of the largest railway stations in the state with seven platforms, had long relied on a single footbridge to connect them.

This has been especially inconvenient for passengers in the rear coaches of long-distance trains, who are forced to walk the entire stretch of the platform to exit the station. The new bridge, part of the broader station renovation project, is expected to ease such difficulties, particularly for elderly travellers.