Booking a cab through your smart phone will now be easier at railway stations in Delhi as they will soon have dedicated parking stands for app-based cabs.
“The Delhi division plans to enhance its non-fare earning by permitting app-based cabs at 14 stations, which include New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Main and Delhi Sarai Rohilla,” said Arun Arora, Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi.
“The Division proposes to identify 10 spots at each of these 14 stations for app-based cabs, thereby anticipating an earning of ₹15 crore per annum,” Mr. Arora said.
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Mr. Arora said that the Delhi division is also planning more passenger amenities at railway stations in the city. “The division has planned for provision of Hot Spot Device for Infotainment provided at New Delhi, Nizamuddin, Delhi, Anand Vihar and Delhi Sarai Rohilla Stations free of cost,” said Mr. Arora.
“The first Hot Spot device facility will be operational by next week at Nizamuddin Station and the rest of the stations shall be provided with this facility in a phased manner in due course,” he said.
“Free google Wi-Fi services have already been provided at New Delhi, Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Delhi. Ghaziabad and six more stations shall be covered during 2017,” Mr. Arora said.
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Most railway stations in Delhi now offer the convenience of escalators, including 18 at New Delhi railway station, six at Old Delhi and two each at Hazrat Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar railway stations. Mr. Arora said that 20 more escalators are going to be installed soon at stations such as New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Anand Vihar, Faridabad, Delhi Shahdara and Ghaziabad.
Ring Railway
The Delhi division also plans to revive the city’s Ring Railway, which is 35-km-long and has 21 stations, that is currently running at 130% capacity.
The Railways recently asked RITES for consultancy regarding commercial development of the Ring Railway. As part of the consultancy, RITES would study on type of commercial development on agreed railway land parcels and assessment of likely revenue generation, accessibility and connectivity of stations and suggest the way forward for revival of Ring Railway in the middle term/long term.