The redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station is set to begin soon. Before this, a plan is being prepared to shift the trains from the station. Sources say that trains will be moved in phases, with each phase involving only those platforms where work will commence.
The redevelopment of the station’s 16 platforms will be done in five phases. In each phase, about 20% of the trains will be shifted. Railway sources have confirmed that the tender for the redevelopment of New Delhi Railway Station has already been issued, and the company will soon take possession of the station premises to begin the work.
Phase 1: Work on Platforms 1 to 3
According to a plan prepared by the RLDA (Railway Land Development Authority), the redevelopment of the station’s platforms will be carried out in five distinct phases. In the first phase, platforms 1 to 3 will be redeveloped; in the second phase, platforms 4 to 7; in the third phase, platforms 8 to 11; in the fourth phase, platforms 14 to 16; and in the fifth phase, platforms 12 and 13 will be redeveloped.
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Delhi DRM, where it was decided that when platforms are closed for redevelopment, the trains running from there will be temporarily shifted to other stations such as Subzi Mandi, Sarai Rohilla, Safdarjung, Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, and others. Once the platforms are ready, those trains will be shifted back to New Delhi.
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Announcement Expected Next Month
Railway sources have mentioned that senior officials are preparing a list of trains to be shifted in the first phase. It is being considered to continue running premium trains like Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, and Shatabdi from New Delhi itself. If this happens, their platforms might need to be changed. A full plan is expected to be made public in June.
Seven Flyovers to Be Built
Traffic jams around New Delhi Railway Station are a major problem. To solve this, seven flyovers will be constructed around the station. Additionally, a multi-model transport hub will be built towards Paharganj.
Redevelopment Work to Be Completed in 45 Months
RLDA has set a 45-month target for completing the redevelopment work. During this period, two buildings will be constructed towards Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate. The redevelopment will include all 16 platforms, and a tunnel will be built for parcel delivery, allowing parcels to be directly delivered to the platforms.