A fireman wearing a special suit walks through fire during Fire Service Week celebrations in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. (PTI) LELIN KUMAR MALLICK

Bhubaneswar, April 14: Construction of an escalator at the Bhubaneswar railway station has completed this week, giving a hope of relief . The city railway station, which comes under A1 category of Indian Railways, will be the first railway station of the state to be equipped with sophisticated escalators.

Sources in the East Coast Railway (ECoR) said that the technical testing of the escalator on platform number one has already been completed and the construction of the connecting link between the escalator and foot over bridge has been almost completed.

However railway officials said that the facility would be opened for public use only after construction of a similar escalator at platform number 4. The ECoR had decided to install two escalators at the Bhubaneswar railway station at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. The construction work of another escalator at platform number 4 is yet to start.

The facility is supposed to help the elderly people and disabled passengers especially those lifting heavy luggage while climbing up and down the stairs of foot over bridge. Sources in the ECoR said that another two escalators would also be set up in the station connecting another foot over bridge. The station has currently two foot over bridges.

“ The escalators will be very much helpful as most of the time we have to rush to the foot over bridges amid congestion. The escalators will enable us to land directly on the foot over bridges,” said Deepak Mohanty, a passenger.

Sources in the ECoR said that currently nearly 7 lakh passengers depend on the railway station every month. More than 120 train originate/pass through the Bhubaneswar railway station everyday. Similarly an annual passenger growth of 20 percent the passengers have been complaining about modern facilities.

“ Most of the A1 stations of the country already have installed escalators for passenger comfort. Bhubaneswar station being a important one of the state, the authorities must install adequate modern facilities such as food courts, VIP lounges,” said Mukesh Parida, a passenger.

The ECoR in September last year had declared of a massive makeover of Bhubaneswar railway station at a cost of Rs 205 crore. The makeover process includes a multi level parking, a new station building, two additional platforms and a fly over in Master Canteen Square.

Chief public relation officer of ECoR, R.N Mohapatra said that the escalators would be made operation in August. “ The ECoR has been trying its best to provide modern facilities to the passengers. Both the escalators along with a VIP lounge will be thrown for public use in August,” said Mohapatra.