If better airports can enhance travel experience, then by the same measure modern railway stations should help make rail travel more enjoyable, the railway ministry believes.
Taking a cue from a move to modernise airports in India, the ministry has directed its divisional managers across the country to select at least five stations each for upgradation within the next six months.
Railway Board chairman J P Batra gave this direction to 67 divisional managers, who met in New Delhi recently to prepare an action plan for implementation of proposals announced by Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in Rail Budget 2006 to 2007, ministry sources said.
The directive was part of Yadav's announcement to provide more amenities to passengers in the wake of Railways' turnaround, as also to attract more pasenger traffic from other sectors, particularly road.
Presenting the Budget, Yadav had announced that the year would be dedicated to 'passenger amenities.'
Soon after coming to power in May 2004, the minister had selected 60 stations across the country for upgradation.
With the latest directive, at least 400 railway stations would be modernised and equipped by the end of this year with facilties like ATMs, Cyber Cafes, ticket reservation through SMS, better electronic signages and public address systems.
New Delhi Railway station is one of 60 stations selected for upgradation and is expected to be modernised much ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
The DRMs would be provided adequate financial support for modernisation.
To decongest New Delhi station, four stations in the national capital were being expanded with latest facilities, the ministry sources said.
While Nizamuddin Railway Satation was being expanded for handling south-bound trains, Delhi Cantt. and Sarai Rohilla stations were being readied for West and Central West-bound trains respectively. Anand Vihar would handle East-bound trains.
The Railway Board has decided to give more financial powers to MRMs to meet the requirements of development and modernisation enabling them to sanction projects up to Rs 3000,000 (Rs 3 million) from the existing Rs 500,000.
To encourage Public-Private-Partnership in running Railways, the DRMs have been given autonomy to select architects, builders and others in their effort to upgrade/modernise stations.
However, they have been advised to keep in mind the local aesthetics of the Railway stations while upgrading/modernising the structure, the ministry sources said.
Asserting that 'customers are the king' and all amenities should be provided to them while in journey as also at the railway stations, the sources said that DRMs have been cautioned that they could be penalised for their failure to ensure passenger comfort and reward those who succeed in making rail travel memorable.
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