Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has decided to renovate the Guwahati Railway Station with an aim to improve the circulating area, repair the waiting rooms, platforms and the booking and the enquiry offices.
Reportedly, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), NFR Headquarters in Maligaon, Pranav Jyoti Sharma said that the work is targeted to be completed within the current financial year.
In association with the Ministry of Tourism twelve new retiring rooms will be constructed, while the existing retiring rooms and dormitory will be renovated along with seating arrangement and other ancillary works .
Sharma said that the new waiting rooms and retiring rooms will have modern furniture and enough benches for waiting passengers. There is also a plan for providing TV and announcement system in the retiring rooms.
Renovation will be carried out at six existing waiting halls, nine existing retiring rooms and one dormitory. Cloak room facilities will be provided, with special emphasis on individual lock facilities for tourists.
Work is also on for setting up an international tourist bureau, said the official. NFR is working to improve the circulating area so as to ensure proper entry and exit of vehicles. Repair of the entry and exit roads to the station is part of the project.
Sharma further added that work in the circulating area includes improving parking facility, providing separate parking for private cars, taxis, auto rickshaws, buses and other vehicles, and having a separate lane for VIPs. The size of the parking space is also being increased.
"We will give a facelift to the booking and enquiry offices. Work is on for renovating the surfacing in the concourse area." The platform surfaces are also being renovated, using granite stone in Platform No 1 and Kota stone in the other six platforms. "Suitably-located charging points for mobile phones are being installed. Sanction has been received for eight lifts and a new escalator," said Sharma.