Nagpur station west gate underground parking handed to Central Railway, set to open in 2-3 days
The Rail Land Development Authority has handed the new underground parking at Nagpur railway station's west gate to Central Railway, which plans to open it in two to three days.
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There is relief in store for people struggling with crowding and traffic jams at the western, or west gate, side of Nagpur railway station. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has handed the newly built underground parking facility over to Central Railway, clearing the way for it to open in the next few days.
The parking will accommodate about 1,600 two-wheelers and 290 cars. Aman Mittal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Central Railway's Nagpur division, said on Saturday that preparations are under way to make the parking operational in two to three days.
Space near the west gate is currently limited, and private vehicles, autorickshaws and passengers all jostle for it, leading to crowding and disorder. The new arrangement is expected to bring discipline to vehicle movement and make it easier to reach the station.
Redevelopment of the station began in July 2023, and the handover has now come after about three years and three months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project in December 2022. The estimated cost of this modernisation plan is Rs 487.77 crore.
According to railway sources, the parking had been awaiting final handover because of concerns about water seepage and dampness at some places. RLDA wanted these problems fixed before handing it to Central Railway. Railway officials, however, pressed for an early opening so that passengers could get parking space without further delay. The sources said Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinayak Garg has asked officials to complete the remaining work quickly.
An official said: "Railway officials insisted on opening early, which means the remaining repair, improvement and finishing work can continue even while the facility is operating, with safety conditions in place." Now that the handover is done, the focus is on removing the remaining shortcomings so that the parking is safe and convenient for people. The seepage problem is being given priority, but the facility will not be delayed without reason.
The basement parking has designated bays for vehicles, entry and exit ramps, barriers and marked parking spaces. Lifts and stairs will link the underground section to the station's ground level, allowing passengers to reach the station building easily. Signboards will guide vehicles, and digital signage has also been proposed.
Traffic arrangements are not limited to the basement. In the open space around the parking, separate lanes for vehicles, a prepaid autorickshaw stand and a designated queuing area are expected to be created, so that vehicles do not crowd the station gate. The prepaid autorickshaw service will run on the ground floor, separate from the underground parking. Separating parking, passenger drop-off and pick-up, and autorickshaws is expected to reduce conflict between vehicles and pedestrians.
For security, sources close to DRM Garg said a joint patrol post of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) has been proposed, with round-the-clock deployment planned. This is expected to improve surveillance and curb pickpocketing, loitering and other criminal activity. A separate traffic police booth has also been proposed to manage vehicle movement.
The underground parking is part of the larger redevelopment of Nagpur station. This includes a new station building, improved passenger amenities, better circulation and links with other modes of transport. The station's heritage building is also part of the plan. The whole project is targeted for completion by March 2027. Railway sources indicated that work on the remaining parts is being speeded up to finish as soon as possible.
