Rail passengers can breathe a little easy from September 6 when Patliputra station will come to the rescue of many who now flock to Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar terminal.
The station will also serve as a halt for many trains that now crowd Patna Junction. Four long-distance trains to Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Hyderabad would originate here. Passenger trains, too, would run through it. The station has a huge entrance and its parking lot can accommodate 100 autos and 50 cars.
Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) N.K. Gupta said on Thursday: “Minister...
more... of state for railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will inaugurate the newly-built Patliputra railway station on September 6. All necessary work has been completed there. However, finishing touches and cleaning up are in progress.” The project costs Rs 1.5 crore.
“Now I do not need to go to Patna Junction to catch any Delhi or Mumbai-bound train. The new terminal is very near to my house. Earlier, I had to leave home two hours prior to departure but now I can start just half an hour before departure,” said ecstatic Asiana resident Diwakar Mishra.
The station, 12km northwest of Patna Junction, would reduce the load on Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar terminals through which around 350 trains pass daily. The terminal was to be inaugurated on Independence Day but it was deferred as some passenger facilities got delayed.
The commissioner of railway safety, which comes under the Railway Board, has already given the green light for operation of trains. DRM Gupta added: “On the day of inauguration, the minister will flag off a special train after which the services of other trains will start.”