Malkajgiri station set for revamp opening as SCR plans major terminal hub
Malkajgiri Railway Station's ₹27.61-crore revamp under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is nearing completion, even as SCR plans new lines and platforms to develop it as a major terminal.
The redeveloped Malkajgiri Railway Station is expected to be opened to passengers soon, with commuters hoping for improved amenities and additional train halts. The makeover, carried out at a cost of ₹27.61 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, includes a new entrance facade on the Platform-3 side facing Mallikarjunanagar, an upgraded booking office, better flooring and passenger lounges.
Work on the island platforms serving Platforms 1 and 2 is still under way, while flooring on Platform 3 has been completed. The newly installed lifts and escalators across all three platforms are yet to be commissioned.
The renovation is only one part of a larger plan. Located about three kilometres from Secunderabad Railway Station, Malkajgiri is being earmarked for development as a major terminal hub. South Central Railway proposes to add three new railway lines and expand platform infrastructure on available railway land, boosting the station's capacity to handle trains.
Two additional lines are planned from the Lallaguda side next to Platform 3, which will require reducing the width of the existing platform. Another line is proposed alongside Platform 1, along with a new platform. Once the work is complete, Malkajgiri will have four platforms and six lines, including two loop lines. The track expansion is estimated to cost around ₹42 crore.
"The idea is to develop Malkajgiri into a major destination point and ease congestion at Kacheguda station," said SCR Chief Public Relations Officer A. Sridhar.
Because of space constraints at Kacheguda, several terminating express trains are currently stabled at Medchal, nearly 30 minutes away. Local commuters say the upgraded station should also get more train halts. "Express trains such as Venkatadri and Tungabhadra pass through Malkajgiri without stopping, forcing passengers to travel to Kacheguda by road," said Bharat, a passenger.
Mr. Sridhar said none of the structures built under the station redevelopment programme would be affected by the upcoming expansion works. He noted that since the new lines will take about a year-and-a-half to complete, tiles had to be laid towards a corner of the platform for the benefit of the disabled, as it is a statutory requirement, and that these would be affected during construction.
Some railway officials, however, feel better coordination between departments could have prevented such expenditure and reduced duplication of effort. "Major infrastructure projects should be planned with a 20-25 year vision rather than on a piecemeal basis," a senior railway official observed.