HUBLI: Several railway stations in Hubli Division of South Western Railway will get a new look in 2007-08, as the division has started implementing plans for upgradation of "A" and "B" Class stations.

Rakesh Vatash, Divisional Railway Manager, Hubli, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the upgradation of five "A" class stations, Hubli, Belgaum, Hospet, Bellary and Vasco-da-gama had begun.

While Rs. 4.1 crore had been allocated for the upgradation of Hubli Railway Station, Rs. 2 crore had been earmarked for the Vasco-da-gama Railway Station and Rs. 3.12 crore for Belgaum station, he said.

Upgrading

During the year, railway stations in Gadag, Londa, Dharwad, Bijapur and Ghataprabha, which fall under the "B" class would be upgraded. The division plans to upgrade two more stations, Toranagallu and Bagalkot, he said.

Mr. Vatash said during the year, mechanised cleaning system for the platforms and concourses would be in place at all the five "A" class stations.

Elaborating on the plans for improving passenger amenities in the division, the he said various initiatives that would be introduced during the year, included coach guidance systems, reservation availability display systems, interactive touch-screen query kiosks, train arrival and departure electronic display boards, digital platform clocks and so on.

Talks

Talks have been held with various nationalised and private banks to install ATMs at the railway stations, he said. Electronic display of the passenger waiting list would be another new facility that would be made available at the Hubli Railway Station in another two months, Mr. Vatash said.

Goods shed

On the shifting of the railway goods shed in Hubli to Navalur, between Hubli and Dharwad, Mr. Vatash said work was likely to be completed within a year (by March 2008).

However, work on the gauge conversion between Gadag and Bagalkot was behind schedule and was likely to be completed by December, he added.

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