Prayagraj: In a significant move ahead of the Kumbh 2031 mega event, the North Central Railway (NCR) has greenlit major infrastructure projects in Prayagraj. These include the construction of a modern holiday home for railway employees at Gaughat and a large-scale redevelopment of Subedarganj Railway Station.
Holiday Home at Gaughat
Railway officials confirmed that a budget of Rs 3.61 crore has been sanctioned for a multi-storey holiday home at Gaughat. The tender process for the project has already commenced. The land, valued at nearly Rs 100 crore, remained under encroachment for almost 50 years before being cleared during a recent special anti-encroachment drive by the Railway administration.
According to NCR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Shashikant Tripathi, the proposed facility will provide accommodation and modern amenities for railway staff, especially during major events like Magh Mela and Maha Kumbh, when a large number of railway employees are deployed in Prayagraj. The building will include multiple rooms, rest areas, drinking water facilities, toilets, and other basic infrastructure to ensure comfortable stay arrangements for staff members.
Subedarganj Station Expansion
Preparations have also begun to expand Subedarganj station as a major satellite railway station before Kumbh 2031. Railway authorities have sanctioned Rs 13 crore to increase the number of platforms from six to eight, and tenders for the construction work have been floated.
Officials said two new platforms will be developed near the Sulemsarai side, adjacent to the existing platform number six. For this, the current railway lines numbered two and three will be shifted. The entire redevelopment project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
After redevelopment, the structure and numbering of platforms will change. New platforms six and seven will be developed towards the GT Road side, while the existing platform six will become platform eight. One of the key features of the project will be the alignment of all eight platforms in a single line of visibility.
A new foot over bridge connecting platforms 1 to 8 will also be constructed to improve passenger movement and station accessibility.
About the Author: Rajeev Mani has been working in TOI's Prayagraj bureau for the past two decades, covering beats from education to excise, taxation, and aviation. He loves travelling, singing, and meeting people, especially academics. He has extensively covered two Ardh Kumbhs (2007 and 2019) and two Maha Kumbhs (2013 and 2025), along with different assembly and general elections.
