For development of railway stations, the railway ministry has formulated upgradation/modernization plans of stations on Indian Railways under various developmental schemes.
Among the 204 stations identified, New Jalpaiguri station under NF Railway has also been identified to be upgraded with world-class features for providing better, additional and enhanced passenger amenities. Works for the up-gradation work have already been started.
Demolishing of the old structures and shifting of offices to new locations including front retail areas etc. is going on to get the site ready for commencing civil construction works as planned.
The work of the arrival 1 terminal and foundation of secondary station building completed. The work for arrival 2 and departure terminal will start soon. UTS and PRS counters have been shifted to a new location at Ramnagar Colony Road near the Rest House of Railway Electrification. Site office and conference room have already been commissioned. Casting of test pile for the elevated road has also been completed, stated a press release on June 20.
The station will have ultra-modern amenities like large covered parking area, 24×7 power backup, drinking water, air-conditioned lobby, offices, shops, high speed escalator, lift, Air concourse, hotels etc. to provide passengers the airport-like feel & comfort at the same time. There will be complete segregation between arriving and departing passengers.
“After completion of the upgradation work, the station will be ready to handle passenger footfall of more than seventy thousand per day from thirty six thousand per day at present. The approximate estimated cost of the entire work of up grading the New Jalpaiguri station will be Rs 334.72 crore,” the press release stated.
New Jalpaiguri station is one of the largest as well as busiest railway stations of NF Railway, which serves as a crucial point for all the Northeast states. Upgradation of New Jalpaiguri station will further help in boosting various sectors of local economy including travel, tourism etc in North Bengal as well as Sikkim. The project of upgradation is targeted to be completed by 2025.
