Nashik station facelift focuses on Kumbh pilgrims’ comfort

NASHIK: The railways has decided to temporarily close down the goods sheds at Nashik station and use those to accommodate pilgrims during Kumbh Mela, besides constructing several infrastructure facilities for their benefits.
There are two big goods sheds where cement is unloaded from the wagons and then reloaded on transport trucks for carrying it to different parts of the city and the district.These sheds will form the base for holding the pilgrims, who would leave Nashik to their respective destinations after the Shahi Snan ritual.
“The traffic movement plan of Kumbh Mela shows that the two good sheds will be restricted for free entry during the Shahi Snan period and the passenger amenities on a temporary basis will be created in the areas to facilitate their movement, temporary waiting and departing the city. The trains will pick them up from the platform of the goods sheds, which will act as the additional platform (PF) 1A,” a railway official said.
The project worth Rs 63.24 lakh has been awarded to a contractor and will be started at the earliest with the sheds being closed for loading and unloading of current.
The station is getting an overhaul and various amenities for the passengers are being developed. “The passenger amenities include toilet blocks and water posts on the PF 4 which is under construction.
A big holding area has been created on the Sinnar-side of the station, which will serve as the incoming source for the pilgrims leaving Nashik. The construction of a booking office is also on,” an official said.
The booking office on the Sinnar-side of the station will have three booking offices, where a complex with a permanent waiting hall will be constructed. This will help people coming from the Sinnar-phata side.
Since a holding area is being planned at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee at Nashik Road, this entry point will ensure easy access to the station.
The work of the foot over-bridge for picking up passengers from outside the station and dropping them at platforms 2, 3 and 4 is also being carried out.
Amenities such as sheds to retain the pilgrims, queue-railings, waiting halls, toilet blocks and tents, bathrooms and booking windows will be done on a temporary basis. "We will raise some temporary infrastructure that will not be required after the Kumbh Mela. These structures will be raised later.
The projects worth Rs 81.93 lakh have been awarded to contractors and will start simultaneously at Deolali, Nashik Road, Odha stations and at Trimbakeshwar from April-end," an officer said.
The administration has also planned public information booths, cloak room, catering arrangements for pilgrims through the vendors.