Title - Now, drive-in to board Shatabdi Express

BHOPAL: Now one can drive up to the platform and board the coach of Bhopal-New Delhi Shatabdi Express at the Bhopal railway station. The drive-in facility at platform no. 6 at the state has become operational on Saturday.

In fact, Bhopal has become third city in the country with the facility of a drive-in platform after Kolkata and Mumbai.
With the drive-in facility passengers boarding and alighting Shatabdi Express will now be spared from the trouble of jostling through the rush and using the foot-over-bridge to catch the train.

Among other trains, Shatabdi Express would now originate and depart from this platform.

Urban administration minister Babulal Gaur and Member of Parliament Kailash Joshi dedicated the platform to the people at a simple function organised at Bhopal railway station.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore, the 720 meter stretch of platform no. 6 has five water stands with 10 bench facilities.

Addressing the gathering Gaur said, "Efforts are being made to provide best facilities at both Bhopal and Habibganj railway stations. Drive-in platform is in the series of those efforts."

The drive-in platform was sanctioned in the 2011-12 rail budget. Some work like over-shed, building construction are yet to be completed. Bhopal divisional railway manager, west -central railways Rajeev Chaudhary said all work will be completed in the next one year. Besides, no construction would be made on the ground floor of platform number 6.

"Its first floor will have railway waiting room, rest room and cafeteria among others," he said.

Presiding over the function, Member of Parliament from Bhopal Kailash Joshi urged the railway ministry to start double-decker train between Bhopal and Indore as early as possible," he said.