In a move to ease congestion and to accommodate more trains, a new platform is being constructed at the Chandigarh railway station. With this addition, the number of platforms will increase to six.
Divisional Railway Manager (Ambala) A K Kathpal said that necessary funds for the project had been sanctioned by the rail ministry and construction was expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Platform number six is being constructed towards the Panchkula side, and will be 600 metres long and 12 metres wide. For this, the Railways is also...
more... planning to relocate the two-wheeler parking lot to accommodate more space for building the platform. Along with the upcoming platform, a new rail-road line is also being established to connect the platform to the main rail-line.
The new platform will have similar facilities like platform number 1. Its connectivity to the other platforms will be through the existing foot overbridge.
Explaining the need for the new platform, Station Superintendent R K Dutta stated that after the railway line between New Morinda and Sahnewal was completed in August 2013, the frequency of trains had increased.
“Additionally, with the proposed doubling of Dappar-Chandigarh track and Yamunanagar-Chandigarh line via Sadaura, more rail connectivity was expected and a new platform would help in catering to the overall expansion,” he said.
A senior official at the Northern Railways stated that construction of general ticket counters, an upper class and second class waiting hall, commercial stalls and platform-sheds were in the planning stages for the new platform, and designs were being finalised.