Bilaspur: Very soon, passengers will have to go to Uslapur station to travel in trains running on Katni railway section including Bilaspur-Indore Narmada Express, Bilaspur-Rewa Express, Bilaspur-Bhopal Express. The railway administration is also preparing a proposal for this. However, this has not been officially confirmed by the Railways yet. But, its murmurings have started in Bilaspur Railway Division. Uslapur is the second biggest railway station in the city. This station is also being developed under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. More than half the work has been done. The remaining work will also be completed soon. At the same time, Bilaspur station is also being renovated. Railways is preparing to make this station world class by spending Rs 435 crore. Under this scheme, a new model of zonal station has also been created. If we look at this model, a new line will be laid in front of the old building. It will connect to the old line.
It is necessary to stop the movement of trains for line expansion
Line expansion is possible only when the operation of trains on old lines is stopped. Railways is also preparing for this. The zonal station has three platforms, six, seven and eight, from where trains of Katni railway section originate. Apart from Narmada, Rewa, Bhopal Express, these trains include trains like Bilaspur-Shahdol, Bilaspur-Chirmiri Passenger. Line expansion work is not possible without shifting the operation of these trains to Uslapur station. That’s why Railways is emphasizing on this. These trains are expected to operate from this station in barely three to four months. Railways believes that unless more and more trains start stopping or running, the status of that station will not increase. Under this, last year the trains coming from Raipur were stopped at Uslapur. Under the new system, trains reach Uslapur directly from Dadhapara. With this, the hassle of changing the engine has also been eliminated.
Pressure will reduce on Bilaspur railway station
Due to more trains stopping at Bilaspur railway station, there is pressure of trains at some zonal station. Due to this pressure, trains have to be stopped at outer stations also. Mail and Azad Hind Express have been stopped several times at Dadhapara Railway Yard. However, this situation occurs only due to lack of space on the platform in the zonal station. If these trains of Katni railway line are sent from Uslapur station and on return, the operations are terminated at this station, then the pressure in the zonal station will be reduced to a great extent.
Currently 17 trains are stopping in Uslapur
Currently 17 trains stop at Uslapur railway station. Of these, eight are regular trains. Other trains are weekly. With the commencement of operation of these trains, the number of trains will increase. This will also increase the number of passengers. Keeping this in mind, the railway administration is expanding the facilities.