PATNA: With the traffic flow increasing manifold under Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR), railways is preparing a master plan to make Danapur station a central station of the division with facilities of international standard. Under the proposed plan, railways intends to spend Rs 2,000 crore on the project.
According to divisional railway manager (DRM), Danapur, L M Jha, Patna Junction is heavily congested and there is no space to develop it further. Railways would thus propose to develop Danapur station as the central station of the division. "There is enough space at Danapur station which could be utilized for developing it as an ideal station. The ECR would submit the proposal to the Railway Board for its all-round development," he said.
Jha said the division has crossed the saturation point on the mainline section between Jhajha and Mughalsarai by about 160%.
The condition of other sections, including Patna-Gaya and Bakhtiarpur-Rajgir, is no better. About 316 passenger trains pass through the division daily. While there is no third line for running commuter trains separately under the division, railways is finding it difficult to cope with the increasing traffic rush, he said. "Patna Junction is, no doubt, a hub of passengers. Around 1.5 lakh passengers reach here daily. It has a daily revenue yield of Rs 45 lakh. Altogether 26 passenger trains originate from Patna Junction alone. However, it has not enough space for its further expansion. Since railways makes a planning for 100 years ahead from now, Danapur station would be the most ideal place for turning it into a central Patna station on par with Mumbai Central station," Jha said.
Under the proposed plan, railways would construct a separate building to house the present passenger reservation system (PRS), waiting halls, refreshment halls, booking offices, parcel office, new platforms and other amenities required for a central station. The circulating area of the station is also being developed.
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