Tirupati station gets modern amenities

Tirupati: The railway station of Tirupati, the most popular pilgrim destination in India, has been getting various modern amenities. In addition, the Rs.400 crore station development plan is progressing simultaneously. Along with 23 other stations in India, Tirupati was one of the stations identified by the Ministry of Railways to provide up graded facilities to meet the comforts of Railway passengers. 

Indian Railways, in association with Ministry of Tourism, has been taking up these development works  on 50-50 cost sharing basis. The upgraded passenger amenities at this station will be inaugurated by the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu through video linkage from Nellore railway station on February 21.The South Central Railway has upgraded the amenities at Tirupati with Rs.11 crore to meet the needs of ever growing pilgrim passengers, said the Chief Public Relations Officer Ch Rakesh.

The station is  now equipped with a premium lounge on platform no.1 in 350 sq metres area with an estimated cost of Rs.1.06 crore and passengers can use them on payment basis. Passengers can relax with the foot massagers, recliners amidst good ambience and modern washrooms. It will have separate rooms for ladies and gents with a capacity of 53 seats, free internet, cold and hot beverages, news papers/magazines, TV, instrumental music, locker, luggage rack etc.,

Also, a new open waiting hall on platforms 4&5 with a seating capacity of 210 in the 1200 sqmetresarea has been provided which will have high speed wi-fi and LED TV facilities. A new spacious and improved cloak room has come up on platform number one where 50 steel type racks have been provided for placing the luggage of pilgrims. The booking office near the main entrance was also modernised and announcement and display boards have been set up. All these will be inaugurated by the Vice President.

The station has an average footfall of 75000 passengers per day. During auspicious occasions the inflow of passengers will be even more and accordingly it was classified as NSG2 (non-suburban group) category station which was known as A1 category station previously. In the meantime, station redevelopment plans on a large scale have been initiated by Railways. Tender for these works was invited by National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) which will carry out all the activities from design, procurement, construction, commissioning and hand over the project to the Railways. 

The revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for redevelopment of the station is under preparation by NBCC, which will be followed by tender process. These proposals will take final shape after due deliberations with TTD, Municipal Corporation of Tirupati and government of AP.