With an aim to reduce the pressure of passengers on Bhopal station, Railways has developed the Nishatpura as a new passenger station. Ironically, the station is ready to be operational but it could not get inauguration date by political leaders for past ten months. According to sources, authorities sought inauguration date from ministers and bureaucrats for various times but final deal could not be made yet. Major drawback of the delay in station’s inauguration can be cancellation of the catering tender. There were few more tenders to be finalised by the railway but all of them have been put in limbo.

 

Talking about the issue railway officials said that they are making effort to get a date from political leaders after the Model Code of Conduct gets removed. Naval Agrawal, Additional Commercial Manager of Bhopal Railway, said that inauguration of the station can be done after the Model Code of Conduct is lifted. He said that the station is fully prepared to share the pressure of passengers with halt of long distance trains. He further informed that proposal is there to provide halt to 14 trains at the station. Officials of Bhopal Railway are regularly visiting the stations to review the preparation. Additional DCM Agrawal said that passenger’s facilities have been provided at moderate level around the station and Rs 3 crores have been spent for the same. There are construction of two platforms (700 meter each), foot over bridge, lift, special pathway for the Divyang and other facilities. He said, boarding train would be hassle free for passengers and this would be fifth railway station after Rani Kamalapati, Bhopal Station, Sant Hirdaram Nagar and Mandideep station.

 

The station will be serving as additional boarding, de boarding point for the state capital. The platform has connectivity to the circulating areas on both sides through the FoB. Ticket booking counters, washrooms, waiting hall, common lobby, etc are also provided around the station. “No tender has been cancelled at Nishatpura station. There are various terms and conditions and in case railway is unable to provide the space or follow the terms- condition only then tender is cancelled. This is fake information that tender has been cancelled.” He further informed that the station was prepared about a year back. He said, two major issues will be resolving with the station. Trains coming from Western Railway side are often detained at Nishatpura for the free platform at Bhopal. and secondly, locomotives of trains coming from Western Railway side and going towards Bina have to be reversed at Bhopal station, which takes at least 30 to 40 minutes and the platform remains occupied.