Escalator at Udupi railway station in September

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 02, 2015: Commuters in Udupi will get to  use an escalator from the main entrance of the Udupi railway station. Apart from the escalator, other facilities for the passengers are also on the anvil at the station.   Udupi being a major pilgrim centre and  education hub of Manipal is located near by  at least 2,000 passengers use  the Udupi railway station on a given normal day.

 

The uniqueness of Udupi railway station is that it is located above the ground level.    A road leads  to the entrance of the station on the first floor,  the reservation counter, a refreshment stall  and other offices are located on the ground floor.  The escalator will be installed at the ground floor and it will take the passengers to the main entrance of the station. Presently, autorickshaws leave the passengers at the entrance of the station on the first floor.

 There is very little space for autorickshaws to park and turn near the main entrance. This problem becomes acute when two or three trains arrive within a short span of one another. The escalator is expected to take care of these problems.  The autorickshaws will be able to go close to the escalator and drop the passengers.   This will benefit senior citizens and women   said Bindu Muralidharan, Regional Railway Manager, Konkan Railway, Karwar.

Already the work to install the escalator at an estimated Rs. 90 lakh has begun. It is expected to be completed by the end of August.  

Platform number 1  at the station is also being widened. The present width of the platform is about six metres and it is being increased to 10 metres.  This is essential as more trains are now stopping in Udupi.   A vegetarian refreshment room is being planned on platform number one. Presently, there is only a tea booth.