PATNA: The Danapur division of
East Central Railway (ECR) has worked out a comprehensive plan for maintenance and repairs of railway quarters with an estimated expenditure of Rs 100 crore. Railways will spend Rs 40 crore in the first phase this year and the remaining Rs 60 crore in the second and last phase next year, said Danapur DRM Ranjan Prakash Thakur.
Thakur said a decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting convened by officials of the Danapur division of ECR. "There are 6,400 railway quarters in Danapur (Khagaul), Patna, Kiul, Jhajha, Buxar and other places in the division.
Khagaul alone accounts for 2,200 quarters," Thakur said.
Under the plan, railways will provide same amenities in the railway quarters as they are being provided in the bungalows of railway officials. "We will provide floor tiles in each quarter of the railway employee living in type II and type III quarters. The walls of the quarters will be distempered instead of white washing to give a cosy look to the interiors of the quarters," he said.
The DRM added railways will spend sizeable money in construction and repair of drains in the railway colonies. "Waterlogging is a major problem in the railway colonies in Khagaul, especially during monsoon. Thus, railways has decided to get the main drains cleaned on priority basis and link it to sub drains of the colony areas," he said.
"Railways will complete repair of the roads in Khagaul within a month. All damaged doors in the railway quarters will be replaced by new ones. Thick bushes will be cut and railway colonies will be maintained properly to make them habitable," the DRM said, adding railways will outsource manpower to get the quarters and colonies maintained in the division.
Meanwhile, railways has also approved a plan to build
new boundary walls all around railway colonies in Khagaul from safety point of view. Worn out electrical fittings in the railway quarters will also be replaced soon, the DRM said, adding steps will also be taken to provide safe drinking water to occupants of railway quarters.
The DRM said the engineering wing of the division has identified about 300 railway quarters as "unfit to live". "All these quarters will be demolished soon and new quarters will be built," the DRM added.
