Artist’s impression of the new facade of New Jalpaiguri station

Siliguri, July 11: Parking space for vehicles alongside platforms, a concourse similar to the ones at airport terminals, new ticket booking systems and a contemporary facade are some of the major changes being introduced at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station.

Perhaps the most important gateway for passengers in the Northeast Frontier Railway, the new-look New Jalpaiguri station will be ready with all these improvements in two years, a senior railway official said today. Some of the work has started already, he added.

The most expensive and time-consuming — and alluring — of the projects is a carriageway that will take vehicles right alongside the two most important platforms at the station — 1 and 1A — from where trains like the Darjeeling Mail and Rajdhani leave.

“It will be like the carriageway at Howrah station, where parking is right next to the platforms,” said Mehtab Singh, the divisional railway manager of Katihar, within whose jurisdiction New Jalpiguri is located. “Passengers, especially the elderly and the sick, can thus dispense with the long trek up the over-bridges, which is the only way to reach the platforms now.”

Singh added: “We have hired a consultant and the design is being finalised.” Instead of going to the current parking lots outside the main building of the station, vehicles will in future reach the platforms by either going under (through a subway) or over the railway tracks that pass in between. “This project will take about two years to complete.”

What is nearing completion and is likely to be inaugurated next week, is a new and spacious passenger reservation counter on the right of the main entrance to the station complex. “The modern structure will house four counters. The new system to be followed here will replace queues with coupons,” the DRM said.

In the new system, a person wanting to book or cancel a ticket will be given a numbered coupon and when signboards display that number, the person will walk up to a counter to get his work done. “This will end long queues in front of the counters. People can now sit in the waiting hall till the number on their coupon is displayed.” Seating arrangements will be made for 40 people.

The DRM today inaugurated a cloakroom exclusively for passengers. “Earlier, the room had to be shared with the commercial section (for parcels). The new cloakroom, which has more space, can be availed of by passengers who do not want to carry their luggage into town,” Singh said.

However, it is the new facade of the station could well become the most eye-catching change.A railway official said the facade “could be completed within six months, provided we get the cooperation from all concerned”.