GUWAHATI, Aug 7 - Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is undertaking a massive redevelopment project at the Guwahati Railway Station with an aim to improve the circulating area, renovate the waiting rooms and platforms, and provide facelift to the booking and enquiry offices.
Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Maligaon-headquartered NFR, told The Assam Tribune that the work is targeted to be completed within the current financial year.
Twelve new retiring rooms will be constructed, while the existing retiring rooms and dormitory will be renovated along with seating arrangement and other ancillary works in association with the Ministry of Tourism.
�The new waiting rooms and retiring rooms will have modern furniture and enough benches for waiting passengers. There is also a plan for providing TV and announcement system in the retiring rooms,� said Sharma.
Renovation will be carried out at six existing waiting halls, nine existing retiring rooms and one dormitory. Cloak room facilities will be provided, with special emphasis on individual lock facilities for tourists.
�Work is also on for setting up an international tourist bureau,� said the official. NFR is working to improve the circulating area so as to ensure proper entry and exit of vehicles. Repair of the entry and exit roads to the station is part of the project.
Sharma said work in the circulating area includes improving parking facility, providing separate parking for private cars, taxis, autorickshaws, buses and other vehicles, and having a separate lane for VIPs. The size of the parking space is also being increased.
�We will give a facelift to the booking and enquiry offices. Work is on for renovating the surfacing in the concourse area.� The platform surfaces are also being renovated, using granite stone in Platform No 1 and Kota stone in the other six platforms. �Suitably-located charging points for mobile phones are being installed. Sanction has been received for eight lifts and a new escalator,� said Sharma.
Over the next few months, NFR will improve the toilets and ceilings of waiting halls and retiring rooms. �Installation of modular water kiosks has been planned for providing potable water in all platforms. We will also give a facelift to the rooms of the Station Superintendent, Station Master and Deputy Station Superintendent by putting tiles on the floors, pine wood panelling, false ceiling and colouring the walls,� Sharma said.
�The booking areas and entry concourses will be improved with granite flooring, aluminium composite panel cladding on columns, wall paintings, and colouring of the walls, toilet renovation, repairs to the aluminium partition and other ancillary work.�
The renovation plan also involves providing 152 stainless steel benches at 19 locations in the platforms, besides LED lighting in the circulating area.
The Guwahati Railway Station is the biggest in the North East and receives a footfall of over 40,000 passengers every day. On an average, at least 35-40 long-distance trains pass through the station daily.
