Dhandari Kalan railway station set for major revamp by March

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19

The Dhandari Kalan railway station, located on the Ambala-Ludhiana-Amritsar line under the Ferozepur division, is set to receive a major upgrade by March 31, according to Northern Railway officials. The renovation, which is part of a Rs 14.47 crore revamp plan, is nearing completion, with most components already finished and the remaining work close to 95% completed.

Dhandari Kalan will be the second railway station, after Ludhiana city, in Punjab’s largest district by area and population to undergo significant upgrades under the “Amrit Bharat Station Yojana.” The ambitious scheme aims to remodel and redevelop 508 stations across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the upgrades, including those at Ludhiana and Dhandari Kalan, on August 6, 2023, via video conferencing.

Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana, Sanjeev Arora, who recently reviewed the project’s progress, revealed that several modern facilities would be introduced at Dhandari Kalan under this plan. “The railway authorities briefed me that the majority of work has already been completed, with only minor touches left,” said Arora.

Key updates include architectural, structural, and mechanical work, as well as the completion of a multi-level car parking (MLCP) structure, a 1,838-square-meter circulating area, 1,350-meter platform extensions, and other crucial facilities. The project also covers the construction of a modern ticketing area, passenger shelters, and the demolition of old, unwanted structures.

Among the progress reports, most of the platform resurfacing, foot overbridge, and ceremonial flag installation have reached nearly full completion. However, ongoing work includes two entry/exit gates, green areas, and a few final touches to the foot over-bridge and other facilities.

When finished, Dhandari Kalan railway station will feature a wide range of amenities designed for enhanced passenger comfort. These include a 12-meter-wide foot overbridge with a 775-square-meter façade ramp, a 200-square-meter general waiting hall, a 110-square-meter air-conditioned waiting room, and a 110-square-meter executive lounge. The station will also have a 160-square-meter entry porch, multi-purpose passenger platforms, a 90-square-meter toilet block, and a 990-square-meter parking lot, including 750 square meters for commercial use. A green area of 210 square metres, a parcel shed spanning 300 square metres and improved signage will be part of the upgrades as well. Additionally, the project includes a baby feed room of 10 square metres, kiosks for local products and space for future commercial development.

Dhandari Kalan, a Non-Suburban Grade (NSG)-5 category station, currently accommodates 10 trains with an average daily passenger count of 200. Located on National Highway-44, it is a vital transportation hub connecting Ludhiana to the rest of the country.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora has been a vocal advocate for the development of Ludhiana and Dhandari Kalan railway stations. In Parliament, Arora emphasised the significance of these stations to the local workforce, urging the inclusion of new Shatabdi trains and additional coaches on existing trains.

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