The Hindu Business Line : Eastern Rly picks 19 stations for world-class makeover

New programme
Railway Board will engage three consultants — technical, financial & legal.
Twelve-coach trains will be introduced in certain sections.

Kolkata March 27 The Eastern Railway has identified some 19 stations for developing them into world-class railway stations, in the first phase of the programme launched by the Indian Railways.

Giving a overview of ER's performance both on the passenger and freight fronts during April-February 2006-07, Mr N.K. Goel, General Manager, told newspersons here on Tuesday that the Railway Board has decided to engage three consultants — technical, financial and legal — and a global tender has been floated for conversion of stations into world class ones.

He said the preliminary activity schedule would be spread over one year, entailing an inception report, site plan for re-development, appointment of consultant, various approvals etc. Besides high quality station infrastructure, some of the other service areas would be smooth and adequate inter-platform transfer facilities, modern real estate development, global best practices in passenger management, and zero conflict in arrivals and departures.

More coaches

Assuring steady increase in riding capacity for suburban passengers, Mr Goel said 12-coach trains (from the existing nine-coaches) are being introduced in certain sections to solve the problem of over-crowding. Pointing out that this would straightaway lead to a 30 per cent capacity addition, he said, initially three rakes of 12 coaches would be run on the Howrah-Bandel line, going up to 30 services daily.

Suggesting that funds availability was not a constraint now, he said platforms have to be extended to accommodate the 12-coach locals.

"We will think of additional coaches when the platforms are ready."

On total earnings up to February 2007, the he said there has been an increase of 15.16 per cent at Rs 2,639.84 crore (Rs 2,292.30 crore). He put the total budgetary grant for 2007-08 at Rs 13,44.27 crore.

About profit

Admitting that ER was still losing money, and that it should take another couple of years for the suburban traffic-driven system to start making any profits, Mr Goel said no compromise was being made on the passenger safety or station/train security fronts, with full-fledged disaster management cells functioning at both Howrah and Sealdah stations.

At Howrah, the cell is located on the first floor, with a clear view of the main concourse, which has CCTV/surveillance cameras having `pan-tilt-zoom' facilities.

He said besides sniffer dogs, the crowded station also has a bomb suppression kit, which cordons off suspected objects and covers it with a special anti-explosive blanket.

The facilities are jointly managed by the Rapid Protection Force and the Government Railway Police.

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