Station revamp stalled

Objections from different civic agencies and the enormity of the project were the major hurdles,the sources said.

Early in 2007,the ministry had announced that the New Delhi station,along with 19 others across the country,will be made world-class stations. Touted as the pilot project,the Railways were planning to unveil the renovated New Delhi station before the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Though a feasibility report and the concept plan were initiated mid-2007,they have not been approved yet.

Instead,the plan met with stiff opposition from agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD),New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC),Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the traffic police. Their involvement is crucial for making the plan a reality.

Confirming indefinite postponement of the project,Northern Railways general manager Vivek Sahai said: “The project has neither been scrapped nor has it been given oxygen. It is a huge public-private partnership project and involves several civic agencies. (But) the traffic plan has met with objections from civic bodies,and there are also concerns over how we will run trains when the station is under renovation.

“There are also several religious structures that will get affected during the reconstruction work and it might hurt religious sentiments of people.”

‘Project too big in scope’
While civic officials raised objections related to traffic,owing to the station’s proximity to Connaught Place,Railway officials see other loopholes in the mega-project.

A senior ministry official said: “The magnitude of the project is huge and it is nearly impossible to be implemented. And even if the proposal was passed,it would have taken more than six years to complete it. The station handles around 275 trains and approximately 5 lakh passengers per day — all this traffic will have to be (directed) elsewhere during the reconstruction phase.”

A source in the ministry said the second bidding process for the Rs 9,000-crore project,which was sought earlier this year,now stands cancelled. The reason cited was that bidders will not show interest until the feasibility plan is approved.

Air-brushing for Games
Officials in the ministry,meanwhile,said optimal development of the station has been proposed. In its place,piecemeal renovation is being planned so that it can be developed further into a world-class station without complete reconstruction in future.

“We have a target of giving a proper facelift to the station before the Commonwealth Games get underway,” Northern Railways’ Sahai said. “Eight escalators have already been sanctioned — one for each island platform — and an additional foot-overbridge will also be built at the Tilak Bridge end.

“Platform surfaces will also be redone to ensure durability.”

Sahai said like the Ajmeri Gate side of the station,which has been given a facelift,the Paharganj side will also be renovated by next year.

A project gone off-track
In 2007 the Railway Ministry announced that New Delhi

station along with 19 others across the country will be upgraded to world-class stations. The New Delhi station was to be the pilot project for the proposal

By 2009 feasibility report and concept not approved

civic agencies raised objections related to traffic owing to the station’s proximity to Connaught Place