FE Exclusive - New Delhi Railway Station’s redevelopment takes bold turn! Indian Railways to forge massive road network, reveals Ashwini Vaishnaw 

FE Exclusive | New Delhi Railway Station’s redevelopment takes bold turn! Indian Railways to forge massive road network, reveals Ashwini Vaishnaw 

The Indian Railways is building an entire network of roads as part of the revamped ‘New Delhi Railway Station’ project, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while adding that the ambitious plan will decongest a large part of the national capital for years to come.

“There is a complete road network which is being built around the station. And that road network will decongest a large part of the city for many years to come, that kind of planning is what we are looking at. We should not take that project as a station project. We have to take that project more as a transportation hub for a large part of the city,” Vaishnaw mentioned at The Indian Express Idea Exchange event on Tuesday.Describing the complexity of the project, the Minister said, we have reviewed the project in terms of the tender and budget including some vital elements. For example, one of the elements was a road. Flyover, which is crossing the tracks. The flyover was along 60 percent of the track, then take a curve, and then cross. When it is 60 percent along the track, then it means you have to stop the work for at least six months including transportation. That is what the bidders figured out when they were preparing to be. So we have now revised the entire design and made it fully perpendicular.”

The Prime Minister’s mandate is very clear. He says the station has to join both sides of the city. It has to become the city center. It has to be a facilitator for all the modes of transportation in that area, Vaishnav added.

Notably, the redevelopment project of the New Delhi railway station will integrate the Delhi Metro, intercity bus, interstate bus, personal transport, and bus system. All these systems are getting integrated. So, there is a very large network getting created first outside the station, the Minister informed.

Why does this project matter?

The redevelopment of the New Delhi railway station (NDLS) is an ambitious project of the Indian government. In September 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Indian Railways’ proposal for the redevelopment of 3 major railway stations including (NDLS) with an approximate total investment of nearly Rs 10,000 crore.

With an estimated budget of Rs 5,000 crores, the project aims to uplift major facilities like non-conflicting entry/exit to the station, segregation of arrival/departure of passengers, and an adequate concourse area without overcrowding,

Further, the project includes integration of both sides of the city, integration with other modes of transport systems, user-friendly international signage, illuminated circulating area, and sufficient provision for drop off, pick up & parking among others.