Old Delhi railway station's second entry to get facelift

The second entry of Old Delhi railway station is all set for an uplift. If things go as per plan, the entry to the heritage station opposite Kashmere Gate GPO circle would soon have a two-storey station building with all the basic amenities for the passengers.

For the new entry — like the Ajmeri Gate side at New Delhi station — Old Delhi too will have a swanky new building, layout of  which is ready.

“The ground floor of the two-storey building would have booking counter, cloak room and office of the deputy station superintendent. The first floor would house a food court and a waiting area. Work order for the project has been cleared,” said a Northern Railway official.

The second entry on Hamilton Road was opened last year with an intention to decongest the main entry to the station on SP Mukherjee Marg by diverting the passenger traffic from the main entry. The circulating area was spruced up with enough parking space.

However, the initiative failed to yield desired result due to lack of basic amenities like waiting area and other passenger amenities. Passengers were forced to visit the main entry for availing facilities.

But officials have now decided to complete station building soon. Around 250 trains operate from Old Delhi railway station everyday. The average daily footfall of the station is around 2.5 lakh. The officials expect that at least 25-30 per cent of the passenger traffic would shift to the second entry once the facilities are ready.

“We expect that around 50,000 to 60,000 passengers would start using the second entry. The entry would prove handy, especially for people visiting the station from north and east Delhi. Once the second entry becomes fully functional, the congestion on SP Mukherjee Marg will automatically ease. Automatically, the passenger amenities at the front side will also see less crowd,” said an official.

Regarding the congestion the on SP Mukherjee Marg, the railway officials in consultation with the road agencies are working on a plan that includes removing the outer wall of the station premises.