New Delhi: New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) is expected to be revamped soon. As per the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), the national station development body, the reconstruction is likely to start in March 2026. The redevelopment project would last for about 45 months. HG Infra Engineering Ltd., along with DEC Infrastructure and Projects Pvt. Ltd., received the contract for the proposed construction work. The project is to be carried through engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode. Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced the proposed project in the Budget 2023-24.

New Railway tracks

In the proposed project, all the 16 platforms and tracks of NDLS would be rebuilt. Firstly, platforms ranging from 1 to 5 in the vicinity of Paharganj will be demolished and constructed. In second phase, platform numbers from 6 to 9 would be reconstructed. Thirdly, platforms ranging from 10 to 13 will be dismantled, and finally, platforms ranging from 14 to 16 will be taken down and built. Each proposed construction stage would consist of about four months of work. The proposed way of construction will have less of an impact on the movement of trains. Apart from this, the proposed project includes constructing new buildings and seven flyovers on either side of the station. This will reduce the problem of traffic jams in the vicinity. The proposed brownfield project would make the station better and more convenient for the passengers.

The construction work would result in diversion of trains and their boarding and departure stations. As per the proposal, trains for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal will run from Anand Vihar Railway Station. Trains for Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are expected to commute from Shakur Basti; trains from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are expected to ply over from Hazrat Nizamuddin; and trains from Rajasthan will depart from Delhi Cantt. Some trains are expected to run from Old Delhi and Sarai Rohilla stations. Railways will give complete information about these changes to the passengers in advance.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

To reduce the crowd and congestion, a new waiting area is in the pipeline and is expected to be built at Ajmeri Gate. The proposed facility is for the passengers with unreserved tickets (general tickets). Passengers will be able to wait comfortably at the newly constructed waiting place. This intervention is expected to reduce the crowd at the station. The proposed project aims to make New Delhi Railway Station a world-class multimodal transportation hub that seamlessly connects rail, Metro, bus, and other modes of transport, ensuring convenient and hassle-free connectivity for passengers. This is expected to provide convenience to millions of passengers and also reduce the problem of traffic jams in the vicinity of New Delhi railway station. The proposed project aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Amrit Bharat Station Scheme which aims to revamp and redevelop over 1,300 railway stations across India.

New Delhi Railway Station

New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) serves as a prominent railway hub situated in the central area of Delhi, India. It includes 16 platforms and several AC waiting rooms. The station facilitates the streamlined operation of over 400 passenger trains daily. The average footfall at the station is approximately 500,000, with numbers potentially increasing to 600,000 during peak festival periods.