The Union Ministry of Railways would take up development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at six Railway Stations in Chhattisgarh.
They are Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Durg, Korba and Raigarh, officials stated.
As a part of Railway’s commitment to upgrade/augment passenger amenities at Railway Stations on continuous basis, development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at Railway Stations was first announced in Railway Budget 2009-10 to provide rail user facilities like Shopping, Food Stalls & Restaurants, Book Stalls, PCOs/STD/ ISD/FAX Booths, Medicine & Variety Stores, Budget Hotels (subject to viability), parking, etc.
Initially, development of MFCs was assigned to Railway Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who develop MFCs with their own equity and to Rail land Development Authority (RlDA) who develop MFCs through private sector participation. Total expenditure incurred by PSUs on construction of MFCs since beginning is approximately `109 Cr. No expenditure is incurred by RlDA for developing MFCs.
Subsequently, some of the MFCs were assigned to Zonal Railways. Works for developing MFCs by Zonal Railways are sanctioned under Plan Head – ‘Passenger Amenities’.
Notably, the South East Central Railway (SECR) is planning to install escalators and lifts at various Railway stations under Bilaspur and Raipur divisions.
According to officials, the zone is going to install two more escalators and one lift at Bilaspur station and work in this connection would be completed by March 2017, officials stated.
Similarly, SECR has sanctioned two additional escalators for Raipur station and two escalators each for Durg and Gondia Railway stations which would be installed by December 2016. Moreover, the Railways will be installing two escalators in Rajnandgaon Railway Station by March 2017.
Notably, the move was initiated in the interest of elderly persons, women and differently-abled people.
Besides, three new lifts each will be installed at Raipur and Durg Railway stations while two lifts each will be setup at Rajnandgaon and Gondia stations by March 2017, officials stated.
Notably SECR will also soon start the process of re-developing Bilaspur, Raigarh and Champa Railway stations in Chhattisgarh as part of its mega modernisation plan, officials stated.
The SECR headquarters in Bilaspur is already being turned into a ‘green building’.
A major move is already underway to adopt use of solar power as renewal source of electrical energy especially in SECR’s office buildings, officials stated.
As a pilot project, the roof-top of the General Manager’s Office Building is to be utilised for provision of solar panels and taking this first step for converting the SECR Zonal Headquarters into a ‘green building’.
Continuing its effort to promote the use of renewable energy, the SECR Raipur division has also installed solar panels at level-crossings existing in remote pockets of the division.
Notably, SECR has achieved an average monthly loading of 7193 wagons per day, which is 611 wagons more than the corresponding period of last year and 196 wagons/day more than the target as on November 2015.
In terms of tonnage, SECR has achieved 14.69 MT (approx) which is 1.31 MT which is 10 per cent more than the corresponding period of last year and 0.50 MT more than the target, officials stated.
loading of 7193 wagons per day in November 2015 is the best ever monthly average loading achieved by SECR, surpassing the previous best of 7052 wagons/day achieved in March 2012
Coal loading was 5649 wagons per day which is 696 wagons which is 14 per cent more than the corresponding period of last year. Growth has been achieved from all coal loading segments.
loading of Raw Material to Steel Plant (RMSP) and Iron ore was 429 wagons per day which is 41 wagons which is 11 per cent more than the corresponding period of last year.
Notably, in June 2015, a ‘Concession Agreement’ was signed between South East Central Railway (SECR) and Chhattisgarh East Railway ltd (CERl) for development of East Rail Corridor.