Railway station redevelopment moving at snail pace:Project launched eight months back; major construction work still pending

The redevelopment work at the city railway station is progressing at a sluggish pace, with major construction yet to begin even after eight months. So far, the project remains largely limited to excavation work near the parcel office and scattered construction activity. The main station building has still not been handed over for redevelopment, raising serious concerns about whether the work can be completed before the Simhastha religious gathering scheduled in 2028. The railway station redevelopment project is being carried out at a cost of Rs 412 crore. Airport-style station planned under redevelopment At the launch of the project, officials had claimed that the station would be redeveloped on the lines of a modern airport and designed to meet passenger needs for the next 50 years. The proposed facilities include: However, visible progress at the site has remained limited so far. Contractor says speed depends on building handover The contractor company involved in the project said construction work would gain pace only after the existing station building is formally handed over. Railway officials stated that preparations for shifting departments and offices are now in the final phase. According to officials, the relocation process from Platform-1 is expected to be completed within the next month. Once the shifting process is completed, that section will be handed over for dismantling and further redevelopment work. Work completed so far According to railway authorities, the following tasks have already been completed: GRP police station Major shifting work planned next month Several more departments and passenger facilities are scheduled to be relocated next month. Temporary ticket window ready A temporary ticket counter has been constructed in front of the Government Railway Police (GRP) station because Platform-1 will eventually be demolished. The GRP police station will be shifted near the temporary parcel office. Inquiry counter The inquiry counter will be relocated to Platform-4. PRO office and IRCTC office Both the Public Relations Office and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation office will be shifted near the reservation office. Deputy station superintendent office The Deputy Station Superintendent’s office will also move to Platform-4. Passenger movement being affected Currently, construction activity is visible near the parcel office area immediately after entering the station premises from Platform-1. The contractor company has excavated a large pit for basement construction. Officials said the excavation work took extra time because of the required digging depth. Meanwhile, passenger movement inside the station premises continues to be affected due to ongoing construction activity and restricted space. Experts call for faster execution Railway expert Nagesh Namjoshi said the redevelopment project was initiated early to ensure better passenger facilities ahead of the Simhastha gathering. However, he pointed out that only limited work has been completed in the past eight months and stressed that construction speed must increase significantly to meet future requirements.