The scope of modernisation of railways stations should be widened to include the construction of additional platforms and making new tracks so that trains do not get late adding to the inconvenience of passengers, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has said in its latest report.

Incidentally, the Railway Ministry has sent a proposal to the Cabinet on station redevelopment that allows for bunching of stations with large passenger traffic and those without; increasing the lease time to 99 years, among others.

The CAG, in its report on station line capacity, has stated that before taking up modernisation, redevelopment of stations and constructing new buildings, “the possibility of further expansion of the stations by adding more platforms need to be considered”. It added that zonal railways should prepare masterplans for stations that handle large number of passengers.

“The modernisation and redevelopment of stations should also address infrastructural constraints and works such as construction of additional platforms, stabling and washing pit lines (additional rail tracks for parking of trains; maintaining and cleaning trains), remodelling of yards, among others, should be included in the scope of redevelopment of stations, the CAG said. It may be desirable to increase the length of all the platforms at major stations so as to accommodate trains of 24 or more coaches,” it added.

Where ever the creation of additional platforms is not possible due to space constraints, the Railways needs to explore alternative places to develop new stations to decongest the existing stations and increase length of platforms so as to accommodate two trains simultaneously at a platform.

The works already planned or ongoing to augment the station line capacity — through additional platform, lines, yard remodelling or route relay interlocking — need to be prioritised to lower train delays and improve service for railways’ customers —passengers and goods trains.

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