Bhaktinagar Railway Station under the Rajkot Division of Western Railway has been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Located in the heart of Rajkot city, the station has been equipped with modern passenger amenities. Almost all works under the project have been completed and the redeveloped station will be inaugurated on July 17, following which passengers will be able to avail themselves of the upgraded facilities.

₹26.80 crore spent on station redevelopment

According to Rajkot Division’s Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Sunil Kumar Meena, Bhaktinagar Railway Station is an important industrial and commercial rail hub in the Saurashtra region and handles around 6,900 passengers every day. Keeping in mind the growing needs of passengers, the station has been redeveloped at a cost of ₹26.80 crore, including ₹11.81 crore for the development of the station building and ₹14.99 crore for the construction of foot overbridges.

Kota stone flooring has been laid on Platform No. 1, while additional covered sheds have been constructed on Platforms 2 and 3. The station building has been given an attractive look with modern ACP cladding, and separate entry and exit gates have been developed for passenger convenience. The station building has been upgraded over an area of about 8,600 square feet, while a spacious concourse hall has been constructed over 2,760 square feet.

AC waiting rooms, VIP lounge and better amenities

Separate air-conditioned waiting rooms for men and women, a modern VIP room, advanced sanitation facilities, modern signage and wayfinding systems, improved lighting arrangements and ventilation facilities have also been developed.

To make the station premises greener and more attractive, a garden and circulating area covering around 25,685 square feet have been developed. A tensile-roof porch, organised parking facilities for four-wheelers and two-wheelers, and dedicated parking spaces for differently abled passengers have also been provided.

New foot overbridges and lifts installed

In addition, the station has been equipped with disabled-friendly ramps, tactile tiles, modern modular toilets, an underground water sump with a capacity of one lakh litres and an overhead RCC tank with a capacity of 50,000 litres.

To facilitate smoother passenger movement, construction of a 12-metre-wide main foot overbridge and an additional 3.66-metre-wide foot overbridge towards the Veraval side has been completed. Four modern lifts, each with a capacity of 20 passengers, have also been installed, providing special convenience to senior citizens, differently abled passengers, pregnant women and travellers with children.

Railway officials highlight development boost

Rajkot Division’s Divisional Railway Manager, Giriraj Kumar Meena,

said the redevelopment of Bhaktinagar Station reflects the division’s commitment to developing modern, safe and passenger-centric railway infrastructure. He added that the facilities developed at the station will provide passengers with a safe, convenient and quality travel experience while also boosting the industrial, commercial and social development of Rajkot and the Saurashtra region.