New Delhi (Metro Rail News):Â New Delhi Railway station is set to undergo a significant renovation, which will be carried out in three phases this year. Initially, the station’s only platform was between Ajmeri Gate and Paharganj. Today, it is recognized as one of the most active stations in the country in terms of passenger movement and train frequency. It has a total of 16 platforms and 18 tracks, with platform 1 situated in Paharganj and platform 16 opening towards Ajmeri Gate.
The New Delhi Railway Station acts as the primary terminal station for numerous rail routes heading towards the East and South. In addition, it is linked to significant railway lines such as the New Delhi-Chennai Main Line, Howrah-Gaya-Delhi Line, New Delhi-Mumbai Main Line, and Delhi-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
A railway official has disclosed that a redevelopment plan is scheduled to commence in 2023 after a gap of nearly 15 years. According to this plan, construction work will be carried out on platforms 1-5 during phase-1, on platforms 6-9 during phase-2, and on platforms 10-16 in phase-3. In addition, a senior Railway Board official has stated that the New Delhi Railway Station currently operates 300 passenger trains daily.
In 2022, the Indian government declared that the renovation of the New Delhi Railway Station would be carried out at an expected cost of Rs. 4,700 crore. The Union Cabinet had previously authorized Rs. 10,000 crore to fund the revamp of the railway stations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
According to the Indian Railways’ plan, the New Delhi Railway Station will feature 40-story twin towers, multi-level car parking, and designated pick-up and drop-off zones, among other amenities, after its redevelopment.
As stated by the government, the Railways will be allocated an area of 45,000 square meters for its office, in addition to the development of 91 bus bays, 1500 ECS parking, and a skywalk for pedestrians and metro commuters.
Based on the model, the office, hotel, and some retail shops will be located in the twin towers. In addition, the station will be designed to reflect both traditional and contemporary Indian culture, giving it a distinct identity. The main complex of the station will cover approximately 222,000 square meters and feature a six-floor building with two large signature domes. The Railways still need to set a specific timeline for this development. In addition, as per the Ministry of Railways’ modernization program, the New Delhi Railway Station and its surrounding areas will be enhanced and equipped with state-of-the-art amenities.
The New Delhi Railway Station redevelopment plan is complete, and the railway authorities are awaiting approval from the Delhi Urban Art Commission. The project is likely to be carried out on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis. However, one obstacle in starting the project is the lack of approval of the Delhi Urban Art Commission for the master plan of the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA).
