The New Delhi railway station was the country’s first to get an executive lounge for passengers.
Very soon, it will be able to boast of being the only railway station in the country to have two executive lounges.
The New Delhi railway station has an executive lounge near platform number 16 on the Ajmeri Gate side, where passengers can pay Rs. 150 to spend two hours in luxurious comfort while waiting for their train.
The lounge, which is being run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has recently been revamped to offer more facilities such as reclining area, spa, health centre, 5D movie theatre etc.
The Delhi Division of the Northern Railways now plans to open a similar facility on the Paharganj side of the New Delhi railway station, near platform number 1.
Arun Arora, Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi told The Hindu that a need was being felt to provide an executive lounge to the large number of passengers accessing the railway station from the Paharganj side.
He said that an in-principle nod has been given for the new executive lounge.
“We had asked IRCTC to provide a similar lounge at the Paharganj side, for which we will provide them the space at the railway station. At present, a suitable location for the lounge is being identified,” Mr. Arora said.
“The second executive lounge would provide all the facilities that are being offered at the present lounge,” he said.
Many facilities
The present executive lounge of the railway station, which was revamped and saw a soft launch last month, now offers new facilities such as a napping zone with recliners, a massage centre, a small 5D movie theatre, family rooms, a business centre, comfortable sitting areas with complimentary drinks and a buffet offering some great food. The lounge is also going to offer a spa and a health centre.
“The facilities that are being offered at the New Delhi railway station are better than what you get at many airports and on a par with the Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport. The prices, however, are just 20 per cent of what you have to shell out at the airport,” said a senior official of IRCTC, who didn't wish to be named.
“At the executive lounges, we are trying to offer more than just resting and sitting areas. The lounge offers a full fledged entertainment zone for passengers who want to have a good time while they wait for their train and also a health centre, spa and massage centre for the health conscious,” he said.
