Indian Railways expansion: With the growing number of passengers and the rising demand for trains, Indian Railways has come up with a huge plan. This initiative aims to double the capacity of 48 of the busiest railway stations in the country over the next five years. Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar has directed the General Managers of all zones to kick off this mission. This move will not only enhance train operations but also ease the burden on passengers by reducing wait times and overcrowding.
The network of platforms and lines will increase at the stations
A key part of this railway initiative is the expansion of current stations. New platforms will be constructed at existing terminals. There will also be an expansion of stabling lines and coach cleaning areas (pit lines). Improvements will be made to shunting facilities to cut down on the time spent moving trains to and from platforms.
New terminals and complexes will be built in big cities
Rather than just depending on old stations, the Railways will now construct new terminals in urban areas. This will help alleviate the pressure on main stations. The plan also includes the development of large coaching complexes that will feature modern train maintenance facilities. Furthermore, the signaling system will be upgraded, and the number of tracks will be increased.
The face of these 48 cities will change
The Railways has identified major hubs across the nation for this initiative. These include major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai. Stations in cities such as Patna, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Varanasi, Agra, and Guwahati will also undergo renovations. Commercial centers like Amritsar, Ludhiana, Surat, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam are also part of this plan.
Target by 2030 and work in three phases
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar has clarified that this plan must be clear and time-bound. While the ultimate goal is 2030, it will be implemented gradually over the next five years. Work has been divided into three categories: immediate, short-term, and long-term. This will ensure that passengers begin to benefit from the improvements sooner.