A,B graded stations will be upgraded soon: Velu

Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, Nov 9: All the 485 railway stations, graded A and B, across the Indian Railways, will be upgraded as 'Model Railway Stations' soon, Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said today.

Addressing the media here, Mr Velu said as part of upgradation, these railway stations would have pleasant ambience, high-mast lighting, well-illuminated platforms with adequate roofing, modernised toilets and drinking water facilities.

Mr Velu said there was no specific outlay or budget for the project, but sanctions would be made as per the demands raised by the respective divisional and zonal heads.

The Railway Ministry had identified 334 railway stations across the country on parameters like tourism and pilgrimage. The modernisation of these stations would be carried out in a phased manner, he said.

Of the Rs 353 crore allocated in Railway budget for passenger amenities, Rs 26 crore had been earmarked for southern railway, but however, he maintained that the actual expenditure may exceed Rs 40 crore.

Regarding Bullet Trains (High-Speed Train Services) to Tamil Nadu, Mr Velu clarified that it was up to the government to take a policy decision on this.

He said at the insistance of the Railway Board, a techno-economic feasibility study was carried out jointly by a Japanese firm and the Rail India and Technical and Economic Services (RITES), to look into the aspect of setting up a bullet train service between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The study estimated that the whole project would cost more than Rs 25,000 crore.

The cost was rather exorbitant, he said adding that the Indian Railways had other priorities like connecting uncovered locations, gauge conversion projects, electrification of tracks in the larger interest of common public.

Mr Velu said the Ministry would look into the possibilities of increasing the speed of important trains like Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Lucknow segments from the current speed of 120 Kmph to 150 Kmph.

Similarly, efforts are on to increase the speed of Rajdhani Expresses, a few Shatabdhi Expresses and other trains running across the Golden Quadrangle.

He said a recent technical survey on sections between Chennai to Shoranur (Kerala) and Chennai to Dindigul found out that it was not advisable to increase from the present speed of 120 Kmph.

Mr Velu said more than 60 lakh passengers commute every day across the suburban railway services in and around Mumbai city and it was a massive exercise to curb terrorist and anti-social activities. The railways had identified nine railway stations as the most vulnerable points among the 61 railway stations located in Mumbai.

On the formation of a new Railway Division with Headquarters at Salem in Tamil Nadu, he said the deliberations on this had reached final stage and an announcement on this can be expected soon.

UNI