The station development works at a cost of ₹26.18 crore at Bantwal Railway Station in Dakshina Kannada District under the Mysuru Division of South Western Railway (SWR) have picked up pace after a long lull.
Launched in August 2023 virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, development works on Bantwal Railway Station started in September the same year. Though the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme projects were brought under the PM GATI Shakti scheme for speedy completion, the works did not progress fast.
Work on station building and facade in progress at Bantwal Railway Station of Mysuru Division of South Western Railway as part of station development work under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, at Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district. | Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
Bantwal Station development plan broadly included resurfacing the flooring of Platform 1 and 2 and providing platform shelters, both for a length of 400 m each; improving the station building, passenger concourse and facade; enhanced circulating area; vehicular parking facilities; provision for lift, among other works.
When The Hindu visited Bantwal Railway Station on Monday (February 10, 2025), station building works were seen progressing fast. Civil works on the circulating area were also being undertaken while a few workers were seen engaged in laying granite flooring on PF 2.
Platform shelter pillars and trusses have corroded after being exposed to rain and harsh weather for nearly a year at Bantwal Railway Station of Mysuru Division of South Western Railway, at Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district. | Photo Credit: ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
Since a fortnight
A representative of the contractor said the works have picked up speed since a fortnight. It may be mentioned here that The Hindu had on January 19 reported in these columns about the slow pace of works being undertaken at Subrahmanya Road Railway Station under SWR’s Mysuru Division. Works at Subrahmanya Road and Bantwal were launched simultaneously. Following the news report, senior officials of the Division visited Subrahmanya Road to expedite the works.
An artist’s image of Bantwal Railway Station facade that is being developed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme by South Western Railway’s Mysuru Division at Bantwal. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Asked about the corroded roof trusses which were exposed to rain and weather vagaries for over a year for the proposed platform shelters, the representative said they would be given a fresh anti-rust coat of paint before roof sheets are erected. As the civil works, including platform floor resurfacing and station building modernisation, were in full swing, passengers using the station premises should exercise abundant caution, he said.
March deadline
The representative said the Railways has given March 2025 deadline to complete all the works, including the signal and telecommunications, along with civil works. The contractor was confident of completing them on time, he added.
Published - February 11, 2025 03:10 pm IST
