Berhampur: Brahmapur railway station will be redeveloped with an investment of Rs 93.19 crore in the first phase. It will include extension and integration of foot over bridge (FOB) , including a 12-meter wide FOB worth Rs 6.7crore, installation of quick watering system worth Rs 8.26crore, construction of G+2 main station building, platform extension, dedicated two lane bus drop, roof plaza facilities, a spacious waiting hall for 500 passengers, five escalators, eight lifts and Divyang-friendly infrastructure, ECoR sources said on Thursday.The project aims to transform the station into a modern, passenger-friendly, smart and sustainable transport hub which can comfortably meet future growth demands, sources said. The redeveloped station will incorporate modern and eco-friendly features like green building standards, solar panels on rooftops, rainwater harvesting and storm-water reuse system, scientific solid waste management with proper segregation and fire-fighting system, etc.
One of the distinctive aspects of the redevelopment project is the “Art as Identity” concept. The station’s façade and interior spaces will reflect the silk city’s rich cultural heritage, especially its renowned silk tradition. Elements inspired by local art forms will be integrated into the design, making the station not just a transit point, but a landmark representing the cultural pride and identity of the city, read a railway release.Handling around 162 trains daily and serving passengers from Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Balangir districts, Brahmapur railway station plays a crucial role in the economic and social life of southern Odisha. The redevelopment will ease congestion, enhance safety, improve passenger comfort and strengthen the city’s position as a key commercial and tourism hub, it said.MP (Berhampur) Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy thanked the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to sanction the amount for redevelopment of the railway station. “I hoped the other demands of the people of southern Odisha like new railway line and introduction of new trains from Berhampur to Puri and a coaching depo will be fulfilled soon,” he said. Saroj Pattnaik, convener of south Odisha railway development committee, which spearheaded agitation for development of railway infrastructure said the sanctioned amount was meagre compared to the revenue generated from Brahmapur railway station.
