CR, SECR differ on divertingtrains to Godhni Railway Station
| Date :24-May-2024 |
By Sagar Mohod
Two divisions of Indian Railways (IR) are on different tracks on the move to divert a few Mail/Express trains on Bilaspur-New Delhi route to the Godhni station. Central Railway's (CR) Nagpur Division is keen on moving trains that come from Gondia direction to Godhni, as it would be easier to facilitate their movement further towards Delhi. Officials of South East Central Railway (SECR), Nagpur Division, however, do not find anything concrete in the idea, and shot down any such move as they claim it is not feasible. The headquarters of both divisions are in the city, in fact, in the same compound on Kingways, but there seems to be no agreement on the Godhni issue between the railway officials of two Zones. Responding to the news item published in ‘The Hitavada’ about the possibility of six pairs of trains operating on East to North India route of Indian Railways, passing through Nagpur, SECR's divisional authorities said that there is no possibility about the same. Rebutting the report totally, Dilip Singh, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, SECR, Nagpur Division, said, the move is not even at discussion stage at the moment. It may be mentioned here that Godhni is being developed as a satellite station with a view to decongest Nagpur Station. Aman Mittal, Senior DCM, CR, Nagpur Division, batted for the diversion of some trains coming from SECR jurisdiction to Godhni.
He pointed out that trains coming from Bilaspur direction have their engines positioned towards Wardha end of Nagpur station, that is on Western side, and now their further movement ahead is in the Northern direction. For the same, a complex operational exercise is required on a daily basis at Nagpur Yard, that is reversal of engines. The shunting exercise, Mittal said, takes about 45 minutes to one hour and it results in blocking of the path as arrival and departure of other trains need to be regulated during this period. Godhni as such offers perfect opportunity as it lies on Delhi line and for the same two additional platforms is being developed at the station. Similarly the existing Goods Shed at Godhni is being merged with the one at Kalmeshwar, thus freeing the space for accommodating Mail/Express trains. Outlining the difficulties Singh's said shifting trains from SECR to Godhni would need massive investment in carrying out correction measures at their end. The first thing needed would be drastic changes in yard of Kalamna, it is mostly Goods yard, so for handling Mail/Express trains some of the existing lines would need to be removed. Also several other changes would be required in yard to ensure seamless movement of trains to Itwari and further by-pass Nagpur Yard and move towards Godhni.
However, SECR's officer admitted that previous DRM Maninder Singh Uppal moved the proposal to Central Railway earlier about berthing their trains at Godhni, but now post scrutiny the same is found to be impractical. Right now, Singh emphasised there is no proposal from SECR side for shifting stoppage of trains to Godhni from Nagpur railway station. Godhni lies on the Northern part of city is being developed as satellite station to reduce load on Nagpur station. Mittal said another approach to Godhni from Koradi side is also going to be opened as same would provide wider access to travellers. The other entrance from existing station building is congested as same opens on to narrow road that passes through residential area. He said approach road to Godhni station from Koradi road has been sanctioned. The upgradation of Godhni station as passenger yard and development of new amenities and station building on Western side will be completed by March 2025. Only after that the plan about diversion is under active consideration of Central Railway. However SECR officials said there is dim possibility considering the operational requirement need at their end that at this juncture is quite difficult.