Team Herald
vasco: Infrastructure works at railway stations and passenger amenity works like new station buildings, provision of High Level Platforms (HLP), Foot Over Bridges (FOB) etc are being taken up by the South Western Railway (SWR) along with doubling.
Doubling and electrification are being given a special thrust all over India to strengthen the railway network for dealing more number of and faster trains, said SWR.
In a press statement, they added that as part of the doubling work between Kulem and Margao section, Sanvordem Station, is provided with a new station building costing around Rs 2 crore.
The station building has two floors and work of 90% has been completed. The amenities provided to passengers at this new building, include new ticket counters with better accessibility, waiting rooms, provision of ramp for persons with disabilities, circulating area, FOB, HLP, wash rooms, etc.
Further at Sanvordem, a new FOB of 76 m length x 3 m width, covering the entire yard width of 6 tracks including island HLP, is constructed at a cost of Rs 2.10 crore. This FOB will provide connectivity to the roads on either side of the station yard including a high level platform. A wider opening of a gangway of 3 mtrs (which is double than the replaced FOB) is being provided which will facilitate easy movement of passengers during peak hours. This FOB will also provide excellent connectivity to the residents living on either side of the station yard,” said SWR.
To have uninterrupted road traffic, in Sanvordem Yard, a Road Under Bridge (RUB) 211B, is being constructed in lieu of Level Crossing (LC) gate No 16, for the convenience of road users. “This LC is a bottleneck for the road users as this LC has 3 tracks and road vehicles are held up for longer duration of time due to closure of gate for movements of trains and shunting of wagons in the yard. This RUB will give a great relief to the road users,” said SWR.
The RUB comprises a twin box, one which is already constructed and the 2nd box along with finishing works and connecting roads on either side is in progress (1.5 km on left and 0.5 Km on right).
SWR added that a new station building has also been constructed at Chandor Railway station as part of the doubling between Kulem and Margao section (which has similar features as the Sanvordem new building). The construction cost of this new station building is around Rs 2.5 Crores and is almost in completion. SWR added that the approach road and circulating area works will be taken up once the land is made available for the same.
Work of construction of LHS (Limited Height Subway) at Chandor station at a cost of Rs 1 Cr in lieu of LC 18, which is located on a State highway with TVU 2,14,892 is also held up due to agitation by locals against the doubling, said SWR. They added that about 50% work of the underpass on the new doubling track is completed. This LHS will provide relief to the road users as it is a very busy LC gate connecting Sanvordem and Margao,” SWR added.
“Major Stations in Goa were not provided with suitable passenger amenities such as platform shelters, FOB, platform toilets, ramp for persons with disabilities etc during its construction. All these works are now being taken up under doubling, along with extension of platforms which will help in introduction of 24 coach length Mail/Express trains in this section, as existing platform lengths are suitable for handling trains with 18-20 coaches only" SWR added.