The city railway station is going to witness development works in the coming months as the Vijayawada Railway Division, which has registered a record growth of 40% in the first quarter, is geared up to enhance various facilities for passengers.
According to Divisional Railway Manager R. Dhananjayulu the station is going to get a new foot over-bridge connecting all the 10 platforms. The bridge would land at the open area identified beside the electricity substation near the west gate of the railway station in Tarapet. Also, parking place would be provided at the new entrance, Mr. Dhananjayulu said.
The new bridge would be the third such facility with a much wider walkway to accommodate passenger rush even in the peak hours.
The station is also going to get additional escalators and the existing one on platform one which is in poor condition would be replaced in three months. “In all, development works worth ₹40 crore will be taken up in the railway station within a year to enhance the passenger facilities. We are also planning to streamline the roads and traffic movement before the railway station, considering the increasing traffic. At present about 1,000 bus services touch the railway station every day,” he said.
On the other hand, the Rayanapadu railway station on the outskirts of the city was being developed as a satellite station for the Vijayawada railway junction. As part of it, the Rayanapadu station was going to get an underpass that will make passenger movement easier, the DRM said.
Cargo movement up
In a first, the Vijayawada Railway Division registered about 40% overall growth in the first quarter of 2018-19 fiscal, Mr. Dhananjayulu said. “There is a spurt in the cargo activity involving Krishnapatnam and Kakinada ports in the division which contributed to the high growth in freight service. While the growth in freight services was 50%, the growth in passenger services was 8%,” he said.
Officials are also planning development works in the Madhura Nagar railway station.
