Railways kickstart sprucing up of Old Delhi station before Commonwealth Games

Keeping the Commonwealth Games in view, Railways today kicked off a Rs7 crore project at the Old Delhi station to spruce up its infrastructure, change its look and lend a contemporary touch to the place. The work will start with relaying of floor tiles in platform 1A and extending the platform sheds.

"During the period of the construction work, trains which originate or terminate in this platform will be relocated to other platforms causing minimum inconvenience to passengers," said a Northern Railway spokesperson.

The move is in tune with Railways' plan to redo the looks of its stations in the national capital before the Commonwealth Games as more than a lakh tourists are expected to descend in the city to watch the sporting extravaganza.

The spokesperson said a special chemical will be applied on the relaid floor tiles to make them dust-proof.

"All the 14 platforms floors would be relaid and provided with modern-looking chairs," he said, adding the entire project will entail an investment of Rs7 crore.

The project will also see establishment of new water kiosks and other passenger amenities, he said.

Prior to the launch of the new project at the Old Delhi station, Railways had carried out a similar exercise in New Delhi which also included the opening of the new terminal building at the Ajmeri Gate side.

The spokesperson said that the beautification work in Hazrat Nizamuddin station will also be taken up soon. Railways will also improve the looks of the stations falling in ring rail routes in the capital.

It has also launched a project to construct about 17 over-passes and under-passes in the Capital in association with the Delhi government at busy railway crossings to ensure seamless flow of traffic during the Games.