Title - Railways to develop Patna, Gaya stations

PATNA: The railways has decided to expedite the Railway Station Development Corporation (RSDC)'s plan to develop important stations with a view to improving passenger amenities.

According to an ECR official, the RSDC initiative would also cover Patna Junction, Gaya, Mughalsarai, Dhanbad, Muzaffarpur and Barauni in the first phase. The authorities have already approved a plan to build a food plaza outside Patna Junction either at Karbigahiya end or at the main entrance. "Restaurants, shopping areas and food plazas would be developed at major stations to help railways earn more revenue from railway premises," another official said.

According to sources, the railways has recently written letters to all states seeking their cooperation to develop stations under the RSDC plan. The old plan to create world class stations has been dovetailed with the new plan which basically aims at improving passenger amenities for commercial purposes, the sources said and added the railways has chalked out both long and short term plans to generate additional revenue from station premises.

The railways is in consultation with several reputed firms of the world to prepare a blueprint for development of railway stations from commercial point of view on the pattern of European countries, the sources said.

According to Danapur DRM L M Jha, railways has worked out a plan to give facelift to Danapur station as well. Janata meals are now available at Danapur station and Patna Junction, he said.