In a significant push to boost rail infrastructure, the South East Central Railway (SECR) has drafted a detailed ₹71.31 crore proposal for the comprehensive redevelopment of Nagpur's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari railway station. This ambitious plan aligns with the national goal of doubling railway capacity by the year 2030.
A Strategic Expansion for Operational Needs
Deepak Kumar Gupta, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of SECR's Nagpur Division, clarified that this new proposal is fundamentally different from earlier cosmetic upgrades. The earlier ₹16–20 crore redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has already been completed, focusing on station buildings and passenger areas. The current ₹71.31 crore plan is infrastructure-centric, designed specifically for operational expansion.
"Increasing train operations requires additional lines and wider platforms. This proposal is designed for that operational expansion," Gupta explained. The project aims to nearly double the station's handling capacity, enabling more trains to start, terminate, and be regulated from Itwari, thereby acting as a crucial supplementary station to the busy Nagpur junction.
Addressing Long-Standing Infrastructure Constraints
The redevelopment blueprint tackles several persistent issues at Itwari, a key junction serving eastern Nagpur and routes to cities like Bilaspur, Howrah, and Chhindwara. A major bottleneck has been the narrow width of Platforms 4 and 5, which has so far prevented the installation of essential passenger amenities like foot overbridges (FOBs), lifts, and escalators.
To resolve this, the plan involves removing an existing line to widen these platforms. Additionally, a heritage-style structure located between the platforms is proposed to be replaced with more functional infrastructure. The Railway Board has identified Nagpur and Raipur as priority centres for capacity enhancement within SECR, with the Itwari project being a core part of this strategy.
Key Components of the Redevelopment Proposal
The comprehensive proposal includes a series of critical works aimed at transforming the station's functionality and passenger experience:
- Widening of Platforms 4 and 5 to allow for the construction of passenger amenities.
- Extension of Platforms 2, 3, and 6 to accommodate long-distance trains.
- Conversion of rail-level Platforms 2 and 3 into high-level platforms for easier boarding.
- Extension of Platform 6 up to 362 metres specifically for DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) services.
- Removal of an existing loop line and the construction of new loop, DEMU, and ART/ARME lines in the yard.
- Construction of a modern, 150-metre-long and 6-metre-wide foot overbridge.
- Installation of 4 escalators and 5 lifts to improve accessibility.
- New platform shelters following IRS design, improved lighting, a new station building, and a dedicated RPF post.
Expected Impact and Future Steps
Once approved and executed, this redevelopment is expected to bring a substantial improvement in passenger convenience and significantly ease congestion at the main Nagpur junction. By enhancing Itwari's capacity to handle more train movements, the project will streamline operations across the region. The proposal is currently awaiting the necessary approvals from the railway authorities before work can commence, marking a pivotal step in modernizing Nagpur's rail network.
