Title - Danapur station may be developed as terminal point

PATNA: With the volume of traffic flow increasing under Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR), the railways has decided to give a facelift to Danapur station, one of the oldest stations of the railways in the eastern zone. The railways is mulling to develop this station as a terminal point to cope with huge rush of traffic and passengers.

Divisional railway manager (DRM), Danapur, L M Jha, said, "It is true Danapur station is in a poor shape now and needs to be developed on priority basis. The railways will ensure that this grand old station is equipped with all kinds of amenities for passengers. This station is the main artery of the division while Patna Junction is the hub of passengers."

Jha said that the railways would soon build a state-of-the-art refreshment room and two retiring rooms at Danapur station. A spacious waiting hall for sleeper class passengers would also be provided just outside the station so that passengers could avail the facilities. The railway has already set up a VIP lounge at the station, he said. The railways has also planned to build separate building on the west end of the station to house the present passenger reservation system (PRS) counter at an estimated cost of about Rs 80 lakh. The circulating area of the station passes through the NH 90.

Efforts are on to shift it a little away from the present location for free movement of passengers, Jha said. He admitted that the traffic jam at railway level crossing gate at Jagjiwan stadium has been causing hardship to pedestrians and vehicle owners. Though a road over bridge ( ROB) is proposed to be built by the state government there, the railways has also decided to widen the crossing gate to four lanes for smooth flow of heavy vehicles through railway crossing gate at Khagaul, he said. Jha said the railways has no option than to develop Danapur station where there is enough space to carry out development plan. Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar Terminal are already saturated from traffic operation or maintenance of coaches point of view. "Danapur station thus could be developed as the next terminal of the division to meet the operational needs of the railways," he said.