Title - Gomtinagar set to be developed as 3-line crossing station by December

LUCKNOW: Gomtinagar is likely be developed as a three-line crossing station by December this year with an estimated cost of Rs 8.67 crore, with the Railway Board giving the money and contracts been finalised. The station would get two additional platform lines, passenger shelters and foot overbridges, water supply arrangements and electrification of lines. The work at Gomtinagar station started in January this year and Railways would complete it by December.

The second phase of the station's development would also follow, once it gets developed as a crossing station. "After the second phase, few trains would start originating from Gomtinagar," said DRM, Lucknow, NER, VK Yadav on Monday while talking about the work done in 2012-13 by the Lucknow division. The estimated cost of the works to be taken up in the second phase is Rs 48.58 crore.

An additional platform, four additional rail lines, new station building, which would be a second entry to Gomtinagar station, coaching complex and terminal facilities with washing pit would be constructed at Gomtinagar station under the second phase. The development of Gomtinagar station has, in the past, been hit by fund crunch. The station was constructed at a cost of around Rs 42 crore, but, Railways apathy hasn't made it function more like a halt than a cross-over station.

Gomtinagar station has two fully constructed platforms, a building providing computerised reservation, an under-constructed additional track, railway quarters and a well constructed approach road. The only similarity that the station has, so far, shared with the halt is the low turn-out of passengers and the functions that the station has been made to perform. Not more than 200 passengers visit the station for commuting on daily basis and tickets are sold by private contractors like any other halt station.

Gomtinagar functioned as a halt station till 2003, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee suggested that it be developed into a terminal station. Things then changed overnight for the place.

According to the plan then, it was to be developed into seven platforms. It would have been at par with other major stations, had it come up the way it was conceived at that point of time. Later, funds meant for its development were diverted to other stations in Lucknow. The division wanted to develop it as a double-line crossing station between Aishbagh and Lucknow junction.