2 escalators to be set up at Vizag railway station

Visakhapatnam: Good news for railway passengers travelling from Visakhapatnam railway station. Two escalators will be set up by end of October. The Railway Ministry has sanctioned funds and the contract company will start the project work soon.

The Vizag railway station is one of the biggest in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh and it has priority in the railway ministry.

According to the officials, 118 trains are running to different destinations from here carrying an average of 35, 000 to 40, 000 every day.During the festival season, the number goes up to one lakh passengers. The station has eight platforms and of them number 1-2,6-7 have lift facility, while platform number 2-3, and 4-5 plot forms have escalators which were established in 2015.

Now the ministry has sanctioned two more escalators for platform number 1 and 8. The lifts are under production, an official of the MNC which won the contract, said.

It will become convenient for the senior citizens and those suffering from various health problems. “I am kidney patient and recently got operated. I struggle to reach my platform climbing the steps.

Escalator will be a great relief for me”, said V Rangarao, a retired government employee, who travels frequently. M Rajyalaxmi, a resident of Annavaram village, said: “I am scared of coming to railway station carrying luggage.

The porter will charge money and crossing bridge is also time consuming.’’