Dhanbad: The A 1-category Dhanbad railway station is likely to get its first elevator within a week and another one by September-end. The lifts, being installed by Johnson Lifts, cost Rs 20 lakh each.

While the lift on platform 1 is likely to be inaugurated within a week, the installation of the second one between platform 4 and 5 is likely to be completed by September-end.

Project engineer of Chennai-based Johnson Lifts Sundhararajan said, "each elevator can carry 13 passengers with a total capacity of 884kg."

Senior divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad division Ashish Kumar Jha said, "The elevators were being installed as part of the government's move to increase public amenities at different stations. While the first elevator will become operational within a week, the other one will be completed by the end of next month."

The station, which witnesses the movement at least 50 pairs of long-distance and local passenger and express trains, was accorded A 1-category status in 2013 following which several passengers amenities were being upgraded.

On February 23, 2014, the station got its first escalator between platform 2 and 3.

This apart, an extension complex equipped with a large waiting hall, a portico, an enquiry counter, an unreserved ticket counter and a portico were constructed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore.

A battery-operated cart was inaugurated at the station on September 22, 2016 for the old-age and physically challenged persons.

Federation of Dhanbad Zilla Chamber of Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rajesh Kumar Gupta, who is also a member of the Divisional Railway User Consultative Committee said, "The demand for elevators was long pending. We will appeal to the railway authorities to ensure that the elevators function properly 24/7."

Our experience with the escalator service is not good since it is not operated round-the-clock and switched on only when long-distance trains such as (12301) Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (12313) arrive."