While the attention is on the Bangalore International Airport, on how hi-tech and high end it will be, the Indian Railways have woken up to the reality that the Gen Next travellers want much more than a filthy, boring railway station and littered platforms.
Work is going on at a breakneck speed at several stations in the State for a complete overhaul. A fine example is the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station (BNC) in the City, which is being hotly pursued by the Railway authorities for a facelift. Not just cosmetic but also utilitarian. The deadline for the complete overhaul is mid-2008.
“We are planning to shift the reservation counter, presently on the ground floor, to the first floor. It will be an air-conditioned facility with 10 counters including one each for senior citizens, differently abled and for unreserved ticketing system. On the ground floor, we will use the space for a bigger concourse and a food plaza, catering to all segments,” said Divisional Railway Manager, Bangalore Division, South Western Railway, Mahesh Mangal.
For the renovation and expansion plan of the BNC, the railway authorities also intend to re-claim the road in front of the station, which belongs to them, but is used as a major arterial road, and convert it into a parking enclosure. “Right now the road divides the parking lot and the station and it’s difficult for the passengers to cross the road to get into the terminal building. We are thinking of taking the road and bringing forward the parking lot.
The present parking area can be converted into a road. This way the passengers will have an easy access to the station and the traffic on the road will also be smooth and uninterrupted,” he added.
The Railway authorities are discussing the plan with the City Traffic police, said the DRM.
The food plaza at the Cantt Station will be set up by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC). “We will have two segments in the food plaza — controlled, for the lower middle class, who are used to a plate ofidli and vada for Rs 5 and thali for Rs 22 and - the uncontrolled segment, which will have coffee bars, pizza, burger, chicken tikka and biryani etc,” said S Gagarin, Chief Regional Manager, IRCTC.
Inside the colonial looking terminal, there are plans afoot for some greenery around the pillars. “We will also do up the arches to highlight them. We are yet to finalise a colour scheme for the station. On the Millers Road side, we are going to extend the building and have a direct entry to the station from the Millers Road. We will increase the concourse area there also and push the parking a little behind,” said Mangal.
There’s work going on at the Krishnaraj Puram Railway station. “We will have a food plaza there as well and improve platform number four. The facade will change completely, to keep up with the present times and needs.
At the City Railway Station, two lifts are being installed for the passengers, one each on platform one and seven.
“We are also erecting a huge canopy in front of the station for protection from rain,” he added.
