Keeping Parsi legacy on track at Udvada station

By March 2019, passengers heading to Udvada in Gujarat or passing through the town’s railway station will be able to witness a glimpse of the local Parsi culture, courtesy the Western Railway (WR) which has commenced the process of remodelling the station on the heritage theme.

The first Parsis to land in India settled at Udvada and built Udvada Atash Behram, one of the oldest continuously burning fire-temple fire in the world.

Keeping in mind this heritage, WR decided to make it the theme of the railway station’s new look and the upgradation work started in June. The exterior of the stations will depict Parsi architecture along with traditional art designs. Tiles depicting traditional and contemporary designs will be introduced in the station along with wall murals.

In the interior, the railway plans to install traditional furniture including wooden chairs and tables like those from the fire temple.

“The plan for modification and upgradation was raised first by the Parsi community to former Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

Work is expected to be completed by

March 2019,” said a WR official. Apart from the modification of the exteriors and interiors of the Udvada railway station, the Western Railway has undertaken the work of raising the height of platforms and will provide amenities like a foot overbridge (FoB), waiting rooms, and washrooms.

“Udvada is important as a pilgrimage site for the Parsi community, hence we decided to develop the station keeping in mind the traditions,” said Aarti Singh Parihar, senior divisional commercial manager, WR.

“The development and improvement of the Udvada railway station is a positive move. However, one has to see the actual implementation of the plan,” said Khurshed Dastoor, high priest, Udvada. The Udvada railway station was constructed in the late 1890s and has not undergone any major infrastructure revamp since then. Today, it caters to 2,000 passengers daily.

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