3 min readNew DelhiJun 19, 2011 01:08 AM IST
First published on: Jun 19, 2011 at 01:08 AM IST
As part of the second phase of the expansion and development of the Anand Vihar railway station,a new platform and maintenance lines will be built at the existing terminal. Modelled on the lines of world-class stations,the Anand Vihar terminal was opened for public in December 2009.
Approvals for further development is yet to received from the ministry.
Sources said the proposal for developing it as a proper world-class station is yet to get a final nod from the Ministry of Railways. For the last one year,the ministry has been sending back the proposal to the Northern Railway,asking it to implement its observations.
“The development of a world-class station requires coordination with other ministries such as the Urban Development,Transport and also the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The Anand Vihar terminal already has state-of-the-art facilities and does not need immediate development. However,we are expanding facilities at the station with a new platform,two washing lines and three sick lines (maintenance lines),” said a Northern Railway spokesperson.
Currently,the station caters to all East-bound trains except one weekly train to Jammu Tawi. The expansion of the platform,washing and sick lines is expected to create more capacity for the terminal. Officials said once the expansion work is completed,by mid next year,the station will be able to accommodate more trains.
Opening of this station has already eased pressure from the New Delhi railway station,said an official. “The Old Delhi railway station that sees a lot of congestion,will be eased of its pressure with the completion of the expansion work here,” the spokesperson added.
As per the plan,the new platform will connect the existing station with the Anand Vihar halt — a stoppage where only passenger trains stop. The linkage will enable passengers,who otherwise have to walk to the main station to catch a connecting train,to reach the station directly.
The cost of the current expansion project is estimated at Rs 80 crore.
While the station was projected to cater to 3 lakh passengers by 2010,it,however,sees a daily footfall of 50,000. Railways officials,however,denied any footfall was projected for the station and said only a primary plan to shift East-bound trains was made.
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