New Delhi train station most 'tourist-friendly'

New Delhi railway station has bagged the national tourism award for  the best tourist-friendly station in the country.

Divisional Railway Manager Ashwani Lohani received the award for 2010-11 from President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday.
“It was a team effort in providing passenger friendly facilities including lounge, food court and spacious and comfortable waiting halls. The award would encourage us to achieve excellence in future,” said Lohani.

The officials counted the tourist centre, proper signages, AC and non-AC waiting rooms ATM facilities, circulating plan and clean environment at New Delhi station to be the primary factors which provided convenience to the passengers.

New Delhi is the nodal point which connects major tourist destinations like Jaipur and Agra. The New Delhi station takes care of almost 300 passengers trains and over five lakh passengers daily.

Catering to the growing demand, a massive upgrade exercise was undertaken at the station before the Commonwealth Games in October, 2010.

The station has witnessed a metamorphosis in terms of its infrastructure, aesthetics, passenger amenities and tourist facilities in the last two years.
The Delhi Division of Northern Railways also got an award for its Rewari steam loco shed, which has been developed as a heritage tourist destination.

DTTDC gets award
Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation bagged the award for Best Heritage Walk category.

Manish Chattrath and MD and CEO of Delhi Tourism G G Saxena received the award from the President.

Delhi Tourism and INTACH India, Delhi Chapter, have been regularly organising Heritage Walks since 2005. “These walks are conducted in the lesser known heritage areas of Delhi to make tourists and local people aware of the importance of their environment and help them develop a harmonious relationship with it,” a DTTDC spokesperson said.

These walks by groups of more than 20 people take two hours to complete.

Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Chandni Chowk, Lodi Gardens, Nizamuddin and Hauz Khas, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutab Minar, Red Fort and Purana Qila and Jantar Mantar.