Margao: Eight months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the works of redeveloping Curchorem-Sanvordem railway station under the Centre’s Amrit Bharat Station scheme, 54 per cent of the work on the project is complete, and nearly 40 per cent of the funds of the estimated total cost of Rs 16 crore have been utilised so far.
The over 135-year-old railway station is among the 51 railway stations of the South Western Railway (SWR) earmarked for redevelopment under the Centre’s Amrit Bharat scheme in the 2023-24 budget.The redevelopment project has been undertaken in the first phase under the central scheme, said Manjunath Kanamadi, chief public relations officer, SWR, Hubbali Division. “This initiative aims to modernise and upgrade key non-suburban grade (NSG) stations, significantly improving the infrastructure, ensuring enhanced accessibility, and providing a modernised travel experience,” Kanamadi said.
The project entails the extension of the existing station building by 200sqm for a new booking area and waiting halls.
Construction of a new 12m wide foot overbridge and provision of two lifts and two escalators are among the amenities featured in the redevelopment master plan, which will be undertaken in phases, it was informed.
The scope of work includes the provision of a platform shelter and platform flooring, besides improvements to interiors, furniture, waiting halls, toilets, circulating areas, parking spaces, illumination, landscaping, the facade of the main station building, and the provision of entrance porches.
The Sanvordem Curchorem Rail Consumers Association is hopeful that ahead of the redevelopment of the station, its long-pending demand for the restoration of long-distance trains—Vasco-Miraj-Vasco daily train, Vasco-Solapur via Bijapur train, and Vasco-Chennai weekly express—will be fulfilled.