As part of the large-scale redevelopment of Gorakhpur Junction, the main gate of the railway station and the stairs of the old foot overbridge (FOB) are being demolished. The existing general ticket booking hall and passenger waiting room will also be dismantled.
Railway officials said a temporary general ticket booking hall is being constructed between gate numbers six and six A. A temporary waiting room for passengers will be built to the north-west of gate number six A. By March, the main gate and surrounding structures will be completely demolished, after which the temporary ticket booking facility will be shifted to gate number six. Until the completion of the station’s redevelopment, general tickets will be issued from this temporary facility.
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The temporary booking hall will have ten ticket counters along with around a dozen automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs). Basic amenities such as electricity and fans will also be provided. For this purpose, around 1,500 square metres of vacant land near gate number six has been identified. In addition, a temporary waiting room will be developed near gate number seven on the concourse towards platform number one, for which approximately 500 square metres of space has been earmarked.
Meanwhile, a multi-level car parking facility and a commercial complex are under construction to the west of the main gate near the porters’ rest house (Kuli Vishramalaya) and the GRP police station. Inside the main gate, construction of a new foot overbridge on platform number one has been expedited, while the sheds on platform number one are being removed.
Construction has also begun on the ‘South-West Building’ located between the first-class gate and the escalator, though work on the structure has slowed in recent days. Once completed, the building will house the offices of station officials and the station manager, and will serve as the centre for train operations and monitoring. Additionally, a ‘North-East Building’ will be constructed near the north gate at platform number nine to accommodate administrative offices and commercial facilities.
As part of the redevelopment, the boundary wall of the mechanised laundry, the mechanical workshop, and nearby small offices will be demolished. A new mechanised laundry is being set up near the newly developed washing pit.
After 139 years, Gorakhpur Junction is being redeveloped as a city centre at an estimated cost of around Rs 500 crore. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2027. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment on July 7, 2023.
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Once completed, the redeveloped junction will feature a budget hotel, commercial complex, restaurants, and a multiplex. Parking facilities, shopping areas, and a metro train facility within the station premises are also planned. A hanging bridge will connect the railway station with the bus terminal. Two additional platforms will be constructed in line with platform number 2A between the South-West Building and platform number one, increasing the total number of platforms at Gorakhpur Junction to 12.