Guwahati, November 29 (MExN): The New Jalpaiguri station (NJP) under the NFR has been identified by the Union Railway Ministry as one of the 204 stations across India to be upgraded with world class features for providing better, additional and enhanced passenger amenities
The approximate estimated cost of the entire up-gradation will be Rs 334.72 crore and work has already started, informed a press release from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). The project is targeted to be completed by 2025.
Accordingly, the UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) cum PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters and the Movement Control Office (MCO) are being shifted, it said.
Existing parking area, Parcel and RMS (Railway Mail Service) offices will also to be shifted to new locations while old structures including front retail areas and offices etc in main station building will be demolished to get the site ready for commencing civil construction works as planned, it added.
The upgradation would include ultra-modern amenities like large covered parking area, 24X7 power backup, drinking water, air-conditioned lobby, offices, shops, high speed escalator, lift, Air concourse, hotels etc. to provide passengers the “airport-like feel & comfort,” the release informed.
The station will have central air space concourse of 72 metre long and 82 metre wide ensuring minimal congestion and loading on platforms as well as complete segregation between arriving and departing passengers, it said.
A smooth flow of passenger shall be ensured through the planned station user movement and additional new foot over bridges, it added. Besides, there is plan for elevated road, dedicated pick up and drop off parking facilities, separate Green Podium etc.
Once completed, the station would be ready to handle passenger footfall of more than 70000 per day from thirty six thousand 30000 per day, at present, the release informed.
The NJP station is one of the largest as well as busiest railway stations of the NFR and serves as a crucial point for all the North-eastern states, it said.
The upgradation and modernisation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to availability of land and other resources, it added.
