Proposal to make Gomti Nagar stn world class

If all goes well, the Gomti Nagar station will soon find a place on the list of world class stations in Uttar Pradesh. The North -Eastern Railways (NER) has finally forwarded the proposal to make this station world class.

The NER move is said to be a sequel to the letter from the Railway Board on September 10, directing NER Lucknow to highlight the stations that could be developed as world class. “We suggested Gomti Nagar station and forwarded the proposal,” said a senior railway officer.

Sprawling over 40 acres of land, Gomti Nagar station was best suited for the purpose, said the proposal. The station premises, the official said, including washing lines, platform, station and circulating area was located on 10 acres of land and 30 acres was lying vacant and could be used for commercial purpose. “It is perhaps the only station with such a vast chunk of land for commercial use and this was the main reason why we proposed Gomti Nagar station,” the official said.

As per the proposal, the station can be transformed into a 12- storey high end station. “The first two storeys can be used for station, for platforms, circulating areas, dormitory, ticker counters and offices,” the proposal said.

The remaining 10 storeys could be used for commercial purposes, the NER suggested. “This space could be used for setting up malls, clubs, pubs, restaurants, food court, cinema halls, wi-fi zones, cafes and fun zones,” the proposal said.

The proposal also said the station could adequately be developed on the pattern of Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi.

The changes, if implemented, would bring the dream of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (who laid the foundation stone of Gomti Nagar station in 2002) come true, NER officials said.

“The Railway Board asked us to forward the suggestions and to propose the station which may be developed as world class. Our division suggested Gomti Nagar station,” said divisional railway manager (DRM), Lucknow division NER, Anoop Kumar.