BAHAWALPUR: After missing the deadline for completion twice, construction of the Bahawalpur railway station has picked up pace, which is visible at the site.

The three-storey building, including 6,080 square feet basement and 3,186 sq ft ground floor, costing over Rs278 million is slated to be a state-of-the-art building covering an area of 43,500 sq ft.

Construction work of the project had been started on June 8, 2016 and was scheduled to be completed by Dec 31, 2017, but due to unforeseen circumstances it was delayed.

During a visit to the site, contractor National Logistics Cell’s retired Maj Arshad Ghumman and consultant National Engineering Services Pakistan’s Muhammad Irfan Bhatti told Dawn that 75 per cent of construction work of the basement, and ground, first and second floors had been completed and finishing work was under way. This was expected to be completed within three months after which the building could be handed over to Pakistan Railways for opening and operations. They said the ground floor could even be operational in June.

The key features of the new railway station would be found on the ground floor, including reservation office, IT room, information and advance ticketing office, a large covered sitting area and shops to generate revenue for the railways department.

The VIP waiting room, waiting halls, outward/inward parcel rooms, prayer and ablution area and station master’s office would be situated on the first floor while the second floor will house the assistant station master’s office, power room and equipment room. There will be a capacity of parking 89 cars and over 400 motorcycles outside the building.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2018