New plan to ease chaos at Kalupur Railway Station
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, June 16, 2012 Pg-2 (Ahmedabad Mirror)
Passengers used to endless confusion and chaos inside and outside Ahmedabad Railway Station in Kalupur will soon get some relief with Ahmedabad railway division planning to modify entry/exit points and streamline vehicular flow. The plan includes introduction of dedicated lanes for autorickshaws, extension of walkways and creation of a new public hall at the entry to dispense platform/non-reservation tickets. The plan to divert rickshaw traffic through a dedicated lane is likely to be implemented within a month. The rest may take up to six months at least.
The station sees about 75,000 footfalls daily. “The main problem noticed at the station was crowding of vehicles, mainly autorickshaws, at the main entrance. This would choke both vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement. To overcome this problem, we have decided that the walkway near Jhulta Minara will lead out of the station into the circulating area that is being specially designed to organise movement of vehicles to drop passengers and move on. Essential services such as washrooms and additional ticket booking counters have been planned as part of this public hall, which will also contain booths for GRP, RPF and traffic cops,” said a senior official.
The second walkway near the passenger reservation centre will terminate in a similar smaller holding area.
Drop-and-go for autos
The official added, “A road parallel to the main boundary wall will be developed. This will be connected to the public hall. Rickshaws will no longer be able to drop passengers and wait for other passengers inside the station. We will introduce a lane system which will divert autos to the hall. They will drop passengers here and move on after being paid. The lane — which will accommodate 100 rickshaws — will be narrow enough to keep drivers from overtaking each other. Once autos enter the lane, the only way to get out is at the existing exit gate near the reservation centre, without breaking the queue.” Visitors accompanying relatives can take the usual route and keep vehicles in parking lot.
“We are planning to introduce a prepaid auto service for passengers arriving in the city. The counter will be set up in the public hall. We are still to chalk out the details,” the official added.
Bus stands
The authorities have also asked officials of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service and Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation to set up bus stands near the hall. “If this happens, passengers will not have to lug their luggage from far. They can directly enter the public hall, buy tickets if needed and walk directly to their platform through the walkway,” the official explained.
Divisional Railway Manager Rakesh Behal said, “Since we allowed passenger trains on platforms 9 and 10, there has been an increase in rush of people in the main building, especially mornings and evenings. To ease flow of passengers, we consulted the traffic police while drawing up the plans. They have agreed that this will ease traffic problems as well as passenger rush in the main building.”
The senior official said, “The plan has been finalised. Authorities are trying to draw an estimate of how much the project would cost. We will submit it to our headquarters for approval soon.”
Posted On Saturday, June 16, 2012 Pg-2 (Ahmedabad Mirror)
Passengers used to endless confusion and chaos inside and outside Ahmedabad Railway Station in Kalupur will soon get some relief with Ahmedabad railway division planning to modify entry/exit points and streamline vehicular flow. The plan includes introduction of dedicated lanes for autorickshaws, extension of walkways and creation of a new public hall at the entry to dispense platform/non-reservation tickets. The plan to divert rickshaw traffic through a dedicated lane is likely to be implemented within a month. The rest may take up to six months at least.
The station sees about 75,000 footfalls daily. “The main problem noticed at the station was crowding of vehicles, mainly autorickshaws, at the main entrance. This would choke both vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement. To overcome this problem, we have decided that the walkway near Jhulta Minara will lead out of the station into the circulating area that is being specially designed to organise movement of vehicles to drop passengers and move on. Essential services such as washrooms and additional ticket booking counters have been planned as part of this public hall, which will also contain booths for GRP, RPF and traffic cops,” said a senior official.
The second walkway near the passenger reservation centre will terminate in a similar smaller holding area.
Drop-and-go for autos
The official added, “A road parallel to the main boundary wall will be developed. This will be connected to the public hall. Rickshaws will no longer be able to drop passengers and wait for other passengers inside the station. We will introduce a lane system which will divert autos to the hall. They will drop passengers here and move on after being paid. The lane — which will accommodate 100 rickshaws — will be narrow enough to keep drivers from overtaking each other. Once autos enter the lane, the only way to get out is at the existing exit gate near the reservation centre, without breaking the queue.” Visitors accompanying relatives can take the usual route and keep vehicles in parking lot.
“We are planning to introduce a prepaid auto service for passengers arriving in the city. The counter will be set up in the public hall. We are still to chalk out the details,” the official added.
Bus stands
The authorities have also asked officials of Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service and Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation to set up bus stands near the hall. “If this happens, passengers will not have to lug their luggage from far. They can directly enter the public hall, buy tickets if needed and walk directly to their platform through the walkway,” the official explained.
Divisional Railway Manager Rakesh Behal said, “Since we allowed passenger trains on platforms 9 and 10, there has been an increase in rush of people in the main building, especially mornings and evenings. To ease flow of passengers, we consulted the traffic police while drawing up the plans. They have agreed that this will ease traffic problems as well as passenger rush in the main building.”
The senior official said, “The plan has been finalised. Authorities are trying to draw an estimate of how much the project would cost. We will submit it to our headquarters for approval soon.”
