The extension work of platforms one and two at Khalari railway station, Jharkhand, under the Dhanbad Railway Division of East Central Railway, has been halted due to technical reasons, triggering growing resentment among passengers and residents. This comes even as platforms three and four at the same station were extended in recent years.

Khalari railway station, situated in a key coal-belt region, generates substantial revenue for the Railways through coal transportation and serves thousands of passengers daily. Despite its importance, the station has not received priority in the expansion of passenger facilities, locals allege.

ALSO READ: Odisha’s Talcher Becomes India’s Most Polluted City, Surpassing Delhi; GRAP 2 Restrictions Enforced

As per railway records, Khalari station falls under the Non-Suburban Grade-5 (NSG-5) category. Currently, seven express trains halt at the station in both directions, with rakes comprising 18 to 22 coaches. Due to the insufficient length of platforms one and two, five to six coaches frequently stop beyond the platform, causing inconvenience and posing serious safety risks, particularly for women, elderly passengers, and persons with disabilities.

Residents have long been demanding the extension of all four platforms at the station. While platforms three and four were recently lengthened, platforms one and two continue to remain unchanged. At present, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is executing the third railway line project at Khalari, is raising the height of platforms one and two and laying tiles. However, both the Railways and RVNL have clarified that there is no proposal to extend their length.

ALSO READ: NHAI Fast-Tracks Rs 1,700 Crore Eastern Bypass To Ease Muzaffarpur Traffic; Survey Underway

Explaining the delay, an RVNL official stated that as per the Schedule of Dimensions (SOD) norms, extension of platforms one and two is not feasible until the existing Foot Over Bridge (FOB) is dismantled and reconstructed by the Railways. On the other hand, the Inspector of Works (IOW), Tori, maintained that since RVNL is executing work on these platforms, the responsibility for length extension also rests with them. Regarding the FOB, the IOW said a proposal has been submitted, and construction can begin only after approval, adding that the minimum required platform width for an FOB is 10 metres.

Passengers and residents have questioned the rationale behind the decision, pointing out that if platforms three and four could be extended after completing technical formalities, similar solutions should be possible for platforms one and two within the same station complex. They have urged the railway administration to conduct a fresh technical survey and take a decision keeping in view passenger safety, rising footfall, and the strategic importance of the coal region.