New Delhi: One of India’s busiest railway hubs, the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), is set to undergo redevelopment soon. As part of the ambitious modernisation plan, nearly 30 trains, including several key Shatabdi Express routes, are expected to be shifted from NDLS to other stations across the capital over the next two to three months, while about 100 trains may eventually be relocated during the period, a senior official said.Railway officials said the move is necessary to reduce congestion and minimise inconvenience to passengers while large-scale construction work is underway.The redevelopment project has been entrusted to the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), which has already started work on the Paharganj side of NDLS. The old station building will be demolished and replaced with a modern, world-class transport hub. The entire redevelopment exercise is expected to continue for nearly three to four years.The work at NDLS will be carried out in three phases. In the first phase, platforms 1 to 5 will be redeveloped. The second phase will cover platforms 6 to 10 while the final phase will focus on platforms 11 to 16. During each phase, several premium services such as Shatabdi Express and Humsafar Express trains will be shifted to alternative terminals in Delhi.According to officials, trains will be relocated depending on the direction in which they travel. East-bound trains, particularly those heading towards Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, are likely to be shifted to Anand Vihar Terminal. These could include the popular Dehradun Shatabdi Express, Kathgodam Shatabdi Express and Prayagraj Humsafar Express. Since these trains carry nearly 1,000 passengers each and witness consistently high occupancy, Anand Vihar would be the most suitable alternative due to its connectivity with eastern corridors, said officials.Trains heading towards Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and southern India are expected to operate from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. These include the Bhopal Shatabdi Express that runs between New Delhi and Rani Kamlapati, Taj Express and Dr Ambedkar Nagar Superfast Express. Railway sources indicated that several Andhra Pradesh-bound trains may also be rerouted through the station.Meanwhile, Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station, which is also undergoing redevelopment, may temporarily handle special trains bound for Bihar, including services to Barauni and Darbhanga. On the other hand, Shakur Basti Railway Station is expected to accommodate several west-bound trains, especially those heading towards Gujarat and Maharashtra. Trains like the Poorva Express, Vaishali Express and some Varanasi-bound services are also proposed to be shifted there.A senior Northern Railway official said the shifting of trains will be done in a phased and carefully coordinated manner so that passengers do not face major inconvenience. “Trains will be relocated, not cancelled, that too based on their operational direction and connectivity requirements. Adequate passenger information systems, signage, transport links and facilities will be ensured at the alternative terminals,” he said.“The redevelopment of NDLS is a long-term infrastructure upgrade. While there may be temporary adjustments, every effort would be made to maintain smooth operations and minimise disruption for daily commuters and long-distance passengers,” he added.The redevelopment of NDLS is projected to turn the station into a world-class multi-modal transport hub. Passenger handling capacity is expected to increase dramatically from the current 4.5 lakh passengers per day to nearly 7 lakh passengers daily after completion. The station’s footprint will also likely expand almost six times, and parking capacity will witness a seven-fold increase, from 373 equivalent car spaces to 2,100, as per the plan.The new design includes twin towers rising nearly 100 metres high, along with modern station buildings reaching up to 25 metres. A massive 60,000 sqm air concourse at the 10-metre level will provide passengers with an airport-like experience. Elevated roads, dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones, and segregated arrival and departure areas are expected to ensure smoother passenger movement, said a senior official.Additionally, double basement levels, wide passenger subways, retail areas, waiting lounges and improved circulation spaces will completely transform the travel experience at the station, said the official. The project is aimed at preparing the national capital’s main railway gateway for future passenger demand while bringing it at par with the best transport hubs globally, said railway officials.
