Howrah station to be catapulted to world class : Velu

Kolkata, Apr 12 (UNI) With high-tech facilities and increased passenger amenities, Howrah station will shortly be converted into a world class station, Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said here today.

While inaugurating the platform number 22 of Howrah station, Mr Velu said 18 other stations across the country would also get facelift. These stations include New Delhi, Carnac Bunder (Mumbai), Lucknow, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Varnasi, Chennai, Thiruvanthapuram, Pune, Secundrabad, Ahmedabad, Patna, Bhubaneswar and Bhopal.

The proposed world class station, to be built on the basis of public-private partnership (PPP), would have a state-of-the-art building, separate departure and arrival arenas, inter-platform transfer through elevators, barrier free access for physically challenged persons and food plazas, he said.

Consultants would be engaged for preparing the entire scheme and tenders would be floated after necessary approval from the Railway Board, Mr Velu said.

Stressing the need for more platforms in railway stations and more passenger amenities, the Minister said the budget for this purpose had been increased to Rs. 493 crore this financial year from Rs. 356 crore last year.

UNI