Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: Better amenities at Shivajinagar station on cards

PUNE: Shivajinagar railway station, an important boarding and destination point for passengers, will be redeveloped with real estate or commercial development as part of the project. It would help improve management of train and passenger operations, as well as create modern facilities and additional passenger amenities. Better parking facilities and better traffic management outside the station will also come up.

Environment factors are to be given top priority as the project is to be executed as a green building project, Railways' authorities said. The redevelopment project is to be carried out by the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC), a special purpose vehicle of the ministry of railways. The corporation has equity participation of Ircon International Limited and Rail Land Development Authority. In the first phase, the corporation has decided to redevelop five stations across the Indian railway network. Shivajinagar, Anand Vihar and Bijwasan (both in New Delhi), Habibganj ( Bhopal), and Chandigarh are among those chosen.

The corporation has invited proposals for appointment of architect and technical consultantfor drawing up the technical feasibility study and master plan for station redevelopment project

. The project will ensure that passengers get safe and comfortable world class amenities and services in a clean and pleasing ambience. It will ensure superior road connectivity with the city for quick and easy access to the station, adequate parking within the station premises. Both sides will have proper and segregated facilities for movement of passengers during arrival and departure of trains.

The project, the proposal states, is aimed at superior train operations and allied services such as parcels and posts which will ensure enhanced operational efficiency. The redevelopment will ensure smooth movement of pedestrians as well as passenger vehicles within and around the station premises. Passengers will have access to information and display systems. The project will ensure modern security and fire safety systems as well.

The Railways have already included Shivajinagar in the list of model stations. The facilities provided as part of the model stations project include increased length of platforms, adequate number of waiting halls, and water and lighting facilities. The Railways have recently started terminating some suburban local trains at Shivajinagar station. The plan to terminate local trains at Shivajinagar is aimed at reducing the passenger rush at Pune station.

Railway officials say that there is very little scope for expansion of Pune railway station and that to reduce crowding; only passengers who want to board the trains should come to the station.

The redevelopment is likely to have some trains terminating or starting from Shivajinagar.