(Photo Courtesy: Mr Sajjad Syed , Addittional Inputs from: Deepak & Praveen KS)
Here is the transformation of Chittoor Railway Station seen through pictures :
Chittoor has been an important railway station in madras presidency built and maintained by The Great South Indian Railway Company headquartered in Madras.
After independence the railway line and station were transferred to Indian railways. Due to geopolitical reasons development almost stalled for decades together. Only one express (Meenakshi) and 2-3 pairs of metre gauge passengers used to run in this line.
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| STATION ENTRANCE |
The proposals for gauge conversion started in 1980s and continuously delayed till 2003 when finally it was completed and inagurated on August 22nd
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| AFTER BROAD GAUGE CONVERSION |
As this line forms and important connection between North and South and reduces 51 KMS in distance the electrification work immediately started. Tata projects was awarded contract and electrification was finally completed in 2007 and was inagurated by Lalu Prasad Yadav on December 8th. Still the station lacked most of the facilities. The platforms 2/3 which had cover over platforms even during metre gauge period was left bland.
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| AFTER ELECTRIFICATION |
Many long distance trains were diverted in this route. As the revenues incresed many fold, The Chittoor station was declared A class Commercial station.In the last 4 years Chittoor railway station has witnessed rapid transformation.
*The Cover over platforms was extended on Platform one, and also provided on Platforms 2/3.
*The platform lighting was replaced by modern and efficient fluoroscent lights.
*Train information display boards and coach guidance boards are provided throughout the station.
*The jaggery godowns on railway station road were shifted, and new parks were developed on either side.
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| LALTEST PHOTOGRAPH |
Around 40 trains run on this route daily. The proposals for doubling the track has already been submitted to railway board. Yet lot need to be done as only thing we are lacking is political will and support.
CRTA (Chittoor Rail Travellers Association) was formed for this purpose, and is a group of voluntary people from Chittoor, constatntly trying to update railway authorities regarding problems in Chittoor railway station and appealing for improved facilities. Currently we are trying for
1. Fast action for doubling the route.
2. The station building is same since independence. Nothing has improved even with incresed trains and subsequent passengers. The station building and circulating area needs lot of improvement.
3. Several trains including Madurai-Tirupati, Yeswantpur-Howrah, Rameshwaram-Okha via Shirdi, Tata-Yeswantpur donot have stoppage at Chittoor.
4. The reservation counter is very much crowded and is obstructing the passenger movement. It needs to be immediately shifted.
5. The platform edges are damaged and cracked. Anti slip Tiles needs to be immediately provided.
Those interested in joining CRTA, can write to ctrivenkatesh@manachittoor.com or can write their name and email id in comments section
If any of you feel to do something regarding, you can sms any of the above problems to 8121281212.
Once you get a response you can update all of us in comments secttion.)
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