Palani railway station gets a ₹20.15-crore facelift

The Southern Railway, Madurai Division, has undertaken the redevelopment of Palani railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at a cost of ₹20.15 crore.

According to a press release issued here on Sunday, the redevelopment works have been completed, significantly improving the station’s infrastructure, accessibility, passenger amenities and overall appearance.

As part of the redevelopment, the station entrance and circulating area have been improved with a grand entrance arch, improved approach road, dedicated pedestrian pathways and covered walkways.

The circulating area has been redesigned with wider lanes to facilitate smoother movement of vehicles and passengers.

Separate covered parking facilities for two-wheelers and four-wheelers, covering nearly 960 square metres can accommodate 14 four-wheelers and 310 two-wheelers.

The station building has been upgraded through facade development, repairs and painting, new canopies and access ramps. Waiting facilities, drinking water arrangements and toilet blocks have also been improved.

A new waiting hall with a built-up area of 240 square metres has been constructed, providing seating and waiting facilities for up to 72 passengers at a time.

A major infrastructure feature of the redevelopment is the construction of a 6-metre-wide Foot Over Bridge (FOB) connecting platform number 1 with 2 and 3. Two lifts have also been provided at existing 3 metre wide FOB to facilitate convenient movement between the platforms. Each lift has a capacity of 13 persons, particularly benefiting senior citizens, persons with disabilities, children, pregnant women and passengers carrying luggage.

Platform improvement works include provision of additional platform shelters, relocation and enhancement of existing shelters and installation of digital passenger information system terminals, train indication boards and coach indication boards.

These facilities provide passengers with timely information on train arrivals, departures and coach positions, the release added.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated redeveloped railway stations including Palani, Paramakudi, Vellore Cantonment, Ambasamudram and Namakkal during his one-day visit to Chennai.