questiqa News | Updated: June 24, 2024 4:59 pm IST
Vaishnaw, at The Indian Express Idea Exchange, emphasized the construction of a new road network around the station. He stated that it will relieve congestion in the city for many years, highlighting the importance of such planning.
The Indian Railways is building an entire network of roads as part of the revamped ‘New Delhi Railway Station’ project, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while adding that the ambitious plan will decongest a large part of the national capital for years to come.
“There is a complete road network which is being built around the station. And that road network will decongest a large part of the city for many years to come, that kind of planning is what we are looking at. We should not take that project as a station project. We have to take that project more as a transportation hub for a large part of the city,” Vaishnaw mentioned at The Indian Express Idea Exchange event on Tuesday.
The revamped New Delhi Railway Station aims to become a multimodal transportation hub, seamlessly connecting the station to the airport and the city. With nearly 5 lakh daily visitors, the station will feature a roof plaza hosting shopping areas and a food court for passenger convenience. Platforms will be exclusively for boarding and alighting trains.
As per reports, Indian Railways is facing challenges in finding a suitable bidder for the Rs 4,700 crore tender for the redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS). To avoid delays, they are considering dividing the tender into smaller ones. This move aims to expedite the bidding process and kickstart the execution of the project. The Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has already initiated a separate tender for the design, construction, and commissioning of a multi-modal transit hub on the Paharganj side of the station, requiring an investment of Rs 440 crore.
If reports are to go by, the most recent tender for the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) redevelopment project was withdrawn in early February due to unresolved issues, including the challenge of constructing a curved road over the tracks.
To enhance the efficiency of the redevelopment process for the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) project and ensure more accurate valuations, officials are considering dividing the tender into multiple parts and reissuing it in the coming months.
One of the main challenges for the project is the redevelopment of the congested Ajmeri Gate and Paharganj areas. These two heavily populated localities are located on either side of the station. However, it’s worth noting that all the land required for the project is owned by the government.
As part of the New Delhi Railway Station redevelopment, the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has prepared a detailed traffic upgrade plan that involves elevated corridors, widening of roads etc.
In the ₹1,000-crore plan (as part of the total Phase 1 cost of ₹6,500 crore), RLDA has proposed construction of 23 lane km of elevated corridors (approx 11km) and widening of arterial roads around the station complex.
Currently, 450,000 passengers visit the station every day. RLDA officials said the projected increase in peak hour passenger volume (the number of passengers visiting the station per hour) is likely to go up from 45,000 to 55,000 in the next two decades.
“Emphasized on the provision of eco- friendly public amenities and utilities in the biodiversity parks including drinking water, sit-outs, etc. for the convenience of visitors. Also advised the officials to create a digital platform to enhance awareness about the parks and to elicit feedback from citizens for further improvisation,” the LG tweeted.
The plan also proposes widening Panchkuian Road, Basant Road, Chelmsford Road, Bhavbhuti Road and Minto Road. There will be separate entry and exit routes to the station.
Indian Railways possesses a significant parcel of land adjacent to the railway station, presently utilized for office space for railway personnel. As per reports, the plan entails constructing new office facilities on-site, following which the existing offices will be razed to accommodate commercial establishments and a pedestrian thoroughfare.
Previously, the NDLS redevelopment project faced challenges due to coordination issues among various government departments and multiple authorities in Delhi. However, in the past year, the land authority diligently engaged with over a dozen central and state departments, obtaining No Objection Certificates from them, signaling improved coordination and progress for the project.
The redesigned New Delhi station will span an extensive area of 1.5 crore square meters, featuring a pedestrian boulevard linking it to Connaught Place. Revenue generation is envisioned through commercial developments within the premises as part of the project’s strategy.
The revamped New Delhi Railway Station aims to become a multimodal transportation hub, seamlessly connecting the station to the airport and the city. With nearly 5 lakh daily visitors, the station will feature a roof plaza hosting shopping areas and a food court for passenger convenience. Platforms will be exclusively for boarding and alighting trains. Currently linked to the Delhi Metro, the station will undergo phased renovations, with sections closed for up to four months at a time to facilitate the project’s progress.
