Railways plans new grades for stations for faster revamp

Many suburban stations in Mumbai, which receive high footfalls and stations with strategic importance across the country , may be placed in the topmost category of stations allowing them to get a faster upgrade of infrastructure and passenger facilities.

Soon after the Elphinstone station tragedy, railways has started re-categorisation of stations by including two new yardsticks: Footfalls and strategic importance. At present, passenger earnings is the main criterion for determining classification.

As per plan, the stations will be categorised as Grade 1, Grade 2 and so on separately for suburban, non-suburban and halt stations. “They will be identified as NSG1, SG1, HG1respectively for non-suburban, suburban and halt stations,“ said an official.

Presently , all stations are clubbed together in categories such as A1, A, B, C, D on the basis of revenue earning.There are 75 big stations, such as Delhi, Mumbai Central, Bengaluru and

Chennai Central

in the A1category .

“Passenger earnings and passengers dealt at the station (footfalls) will be taken into consideration while deciding the category of rail way station and type and scale of amenities to be provided at the station,“ said another official.

The classification plays a key role in construction aspects of the station and deployment of manpower, and higher category stations receive more funds and atten tion from the railway authorities.

“With separate classification for suburban and inclusion of footfalls as criteria, many suburban stations in Mumbai will get into the topmost category , which are at present C and D, despite receiving massive footfalls,“ said an official.

He added, “The move is to ensure better passenger facilities, such as escalators, elevators, lifts, better platforms, foot overbridges (FoBs) and upgraded amenities like cleanliness and drinking water.“

According to the plan, top 20 stations in terms of earning and passengers handled can be categorised as `special category' and enhanced level of passenger amenities, in terms of quantity , scale, size and quality , will be prescribed for such `mega' stations.

The transporter has also decided to provide minimum facilities needed to ensure a safe journey by passengers as essential requirements at stations irrespective of category .

Essential items for which travellers are dependent on railways to provide are fixed structures such as platform, foot over-bridge and trolley path for movement of wheelchairs.