The Railway department has undertaken a number of projects to render effective services to millions of devotees during the Nabakalebar ritual here in June. In a statutory advisory meeting held on Sunday, divisional commercial manager Tribikram Mishra informed that a huge pilgrim shelter was being built near the railway station at a cost of Rs 11 crore with all modern hygienic facilities. He informed that Rs 8 crore would be spent for construction of two new platforms increasing the total number of platforms to eight while the existing ones would be renovated.
A number of bathing complexes would be erected to cater to the needs of the visitors in the station.Nearly Rs 50 lakh would be spent to provide round–the-clock power in the railway station complex. Rs 20 lakh would be spent for installation of a number of lED television display sets in the station and platforms. 50 CCTV camera units and a luggage scanner also would be in operation in the station complex to monitor and ensure safety of the visitors in the station complex.
Efforts are on to upgrade the Government railway police (GRP) outpost to a full-fledged police station while the first aid center would be transformed into a hospital. More ticket booking outlets would be made operational soon. The ongoing Sakhigopal-Puri double track laying work is on war-footing and expected for completion by the end of the March, Mishr said. This would make rail transport more convenient and more trains could ply along the Khurda road –Puri route, Mishra added.
A proposal for construction of a multi-storied luxurious tourist complex with star hotel facilities, to be built near the railway station on own land at a cost of about Rs 25 crore, has been sent to the rail board for approval, Mishra informed. Railway officials Ashok Kumar Mohanty, SK lama, advisory board members Jagannath Bastia, RN Mahapatra and SS Mahapatra were present.