Indian Railways vows makeover in over 8,700 stations in just 3 months

Railway stations across the country will have a set of essential amenities, depending on size traffic and other factors, by August 31 to make them citizen-friendly, the Indian Railways has decided. The national transporter has prepared a report listing the facilities that it feels should be available at its train stations.

The efforts to upgrade 8,738 stations are said to be the fallout of the Elphinstone Road stampede that left 23 people dead on September 29 last year. The report has categorized the railway stations into suburban, non-suburban and halt stations based on user footfall, number of trains and earnings.

Senior officials from Railway Board said that they want to ensure that all stations provide basic amenities.

The amenities for suburban stations include coach guidance indicator boards, rooftop over platforms with solar panels, foot overbridges that are 6-meter wide, ramps, one-third of urinals for women and automatic vending machines. Bathrooms will soon be removed from suburban stations.  There are 507 suburban stations, 2,326 halt stations while rest are non-suburban stations.

The non-suburban and halt stations should have air cooling systems, insect, and flycatchers at waiting rooms, infant nursing cubicle at ladies waiting rooms, says the report. The halt stations need to have roof shelter/trees, piped/hand-pumped drinking water outlet, dustbins at every 50 meters. Separate waiting halls for senior citizens and physically challenged too shall be provided.

“We have set norms for every category of stations that needs to be followed. People can also know about it as it is mandatory for having a display board stating the essential amenities being provided at the station,” said an official from Railway Board.

By Shashank Rao, DNA India