Berhampur, March 15: The new platform number 4 at the city railway station here has been opened to public with the Berhampur-Cuttack first passenger train departing from here.
However, the formal inauguration event is yet to take place.
"We have sought the permission of the railway ministry to fix a convenient date for the purpose," said station manager Durga Prasad Brahma.
The entrance gate next to the new platform and the ticket booking counter have also been opened to the passengers from today.
Three railway employees have been appointed to man the counter.
Six train ticket examiners, six Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and 10 sanitation staffers have been deployed at the platform.
"The Cuttack-Berhampur passenger from now onwards will halt at Berhampur station instead of Ichhapur. We have also made arrangements for a driver's rest room here," said the station manager.
"Tickets worth Rs 10,800 have been sold in one hour from the new booking counter," he said.
Railway sources said the construction of the 600-metre platform took almost two years and Rs 5crore has been spent on it.
A ramp has also been constructed for the physically-challenged people. There are separate entrance and exit gates for the new platform. Separate space has also been earmarked for parking of vehicles.
Sanjay Kumar Patnaik, a student and resident of Ankuli, said: "We can now enter the station through platform number 4. There was no proper entrance gate here. But now, the new gate has given a proper shape to the station. Separate booking counter at the platform will also help control the crowd," he said.
Chairman of Berhampur Development Authority Subash Maharana said the new platform would facilitate more than one lakh residents of Ankuli, Kanisi, Haladiapadar, Gopalpur, Burukudi and many other areas. People will be able to enter the station from the NH-5 side through the bypass road and Goodshed Road now. This will help them avoid the congestion in the city.
"It will also help solve the traffic problems," he said.
