Vijayawada Junction Railway Station. (Image: DC)
Vijayawada: Vijayawada Junction Railway Station (BZA) has secured the non-suburban group-1 (NSG-1) status for the first time after it crossed the Rs 500-crore mark in earnings in the financial year 2023-2024.
Vijayawada divisional railway manager (DRM) Narendra Patil said Vijayawada junction is the second station under South Central Railway (SCR) to get NSG-1 status after Secunderabad station.
As per the Railway Board's revised norms in 2017-18, NSG-1 status is given if the station has over Rs 500 crore in earnings or 2 crore passengers. In total, 28 stations in the country have this status.
Patil explained, “Vijayawada railway station fell short in both the criteria narrowly in 2017-18 and was appended with NSG-2 status. However in the latest review of 2023-24, Vijayawada station registered whopping `528 crore annual earnings and handled around 1.68 crore passengers in FY 2023-24, exceeding the NSG-1 criteria which is a testament to its strategic location and bustling operations.”
He mentioned, “Vijayawada railway station daily handles around 250 passenger trains (daily and weekly) and around 70 goods trains making it a hub for passenger activity. It is strategically located to the north, west and eastern parts of India."
He also said the station is also a Divyang jan (specially-abled) friendly station with multiple lifts, ramps, wheelchair facilities, emergency medical services and battery-operated car services.
He explained that the public has high expectations from the Railways because of new technologies and accordingly improvements in passenger amenities is a continuous process.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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