More escalators at Patna Junction, other stations soon

PATNA: The East Central Railway (ECR) has decided to expedite installation of escalators and lifts at all A-1, A and C category stations falling under the jurisdiction of its five divisions.
While A-1 and A category stations are primarily passenger oriented, C category stations generate more revenue through operation of goods trains.

According to ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar, the ECR has completed installation of escalators at five stations — Patna Junction, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Muzaffarpur, Samatsipur and Dhanbad — so far.

“More escalators will be installed at the Patna Junction (one more pair), Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Ara, Buxar, Gaya, Samastipur, Pataliputra Junction and Danapur station,” the CPRO said.

Similarly, the ECR is installing lifts at the Patna Junction, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Danapur, Ara and Buxar stations under the Danapur division and at Gaya and Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction under the Mughalsarai division. Lifts are also being installed at Barauni, Hajipur and Muzaffarpur stations under Sonepur division, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Saharsa stations under Samastipur division and at two stations under Dhanbad division.

According to sources, the Railway Board has approved a proposal to install escalators at 2,589 and lifts at 1,000 stations across the country, of which the ECR will install escalators at 13 and lifts at 14 stations in the first phase.