Travelers suffer as rly station renovation works chug on
In Short
Launched in August 2023 by PM Modi, the modernisation of Kothagudem railway station remains incomplete even after three years. Passengers are facing difficulty as platforms have remained without proper floorings, which has made boarding and alighting from trains difficult, especially for elderly, women and children
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Travelers suffer as rly station renovation works chug on
Kothagudem: The modernisation works at Kothagudem (Bhadrachalam Road) railway station, taken up under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), have remained incomplete even three years after their launch, causing considerable inconvenience to thousands of daily passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the renovation works in August 2023 along with projects at more than 500 railway stations across the country. The works were originally scheduled for completion within a year. However, despite the passage of three years, several key components of the project are yet to be completed, with no clear indication of when the station will be fully upgraded.
The modernisation project includes an upgraded station façade, entrance portico, a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge equipped with a lift and an escalator, improved platform surfaces and coverings, upgraded waiting halls, toilets with facilities for Divyangjan, improved signage, coach and train indicator boards, development of circulating areas, landscaping and promotion of local art and culture. Although some works have been completed, several major components remain unfinished. Construction and improvement works relating to the platforms, façade, entrance portico, escalator and waiting hall are progressing at a slow pace.
Passengers face difficulty due to the condition of platforms, which have remained without proper floorings for nearly two years which has made boarding and alighting from trains difficult, especially for elderly, women and children.
The lack of adequate seating arrangements has added to their problems, forcing commuters to stand for extended periods while waiting for trains or sit on the floor.
“Passengers are facing severe inconvenience due to the prolonged delay in the modernisation works. With insufficient seating facilities, people have no option but to sit on the floor or remain standing for hours,” said K Venkateswara Rao, a passenger from Sujatha Nagar.
He also pointed out that the cancellation of several passenger trains had further compounded the difficulties faced by commuters. Inadequate toilet facilities at the station were another major concern, he added.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member Vaddiraju Ravichandra said he had brought the delay in the modernisation works to the notice of South Central Railway (SCR) officials and urged them to expedite the project in the interest of passengers.
The MP also said he had requested railway officials to restore the cancelled passenger trains to provide better connectivity and reduce the hardships faced by people travelling from the region. The modernisation project is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 25.41 crore. Categorised as a Non-Suburban Grade-4 (NSG-4) station, Kothagudem railway station records an average daily passenger footfall of around 8,020.
