In Pictures: Redevelopment Work On Visakhapatnam Railway Station Commences, To Provide World-Class Travel Experience

The work on the redevelopment of Visakhapatnam Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh has commenced. The project is expected to cost Rs 456 crore and accommodate 75,000 passengers daily.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 November 2022.

Visakhapatnam Railway Station is the major halt of the Howrah-Chennai main line and is well-connected to the city. The main port and station roads provide good access to the surrounding areas.

Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) vice-chairman Ved Parkash Dudeja said "Visakhapatnam is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The growth of the IT sector in recent times has significantly boosted the economic activities in the city. Redevelopment of Visakhapatnam railway station will have a multiplier impact on the local economy and further accentuate growth."

Visakhapatnam Railway Station will be redeveloped using an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model. The railway station redevelopment project's tender was finalised in September 2022.

Eight platforms currently exist at the station, and plans call for the building of two more. The proposed two new platforms will be built on the Gnanapuram side. The old station building next to Platform-eight (Gnanapuram side) will be dismantled to make way for Platform-nine.

“On completion of the two new platforms, 20 more trains can be accommodated into Visakhapatnam station in 24 hours. The work on the construction of platforms is expected to begin soon. This apart, the Railway Board has sanctioned projects, worth around Rs 800 crores, which can drastically reduce the capacity constraints in Visakhapatnam,” said Divisional Railway Manager Anup Satpathy, reports The Hindu.

The officials stated a three-year timeline for the completion of the project.

The redevelopment project was proposed in 2017. 

Proposed Design

The proposed design of the to-be redeveloped Visakhapatnam Railway Station boasts superior standard infrastructure, state-of-the-art skywalks, a smart parking management system and more to provide passengers with a delightful experience.

Upgrades to the station will include state-of-the-art skywalks allowing passengers to move seamlessly between platforms and a roof plaza over the platforms, which will link the departure halls and the common waiting areas.

The parking facility will be equipped with an IOT-based parking management system that will allow passengers to book parking slots via mobile apps. Commercial space will also be developed over the multi-level parking area.

The other facilities include the provision of around 32 escalators and 20 lifts, unidirectional flow of passengers at the station, with effective segregation of arrival and departure passengers.

The station will also have a medical emergency room, a cloakroom, a retiring room, multiple offices and retail spaces as part of the redevelopment.