In new scheme of
station categorization, even the small stations, because of footfall criteria, to
get the higher level of passenger amenities leading to better passenger
satisfaction.
In
a major policy decision, Ministry of Railways has comprehensively revised
categories of various Railway Stations with a view to make it more practical
and rational. This comes after the Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush
Goyal directed to re-categorize railway stations taking into account earnings,
passenger footfall, strategic importance with a view to plan various passenger
services and passenger amenities at stations in a more effective and focused
manner. It will also help the passenger to have a better experience in relation
to travel amenities at stations.
The
earlier criteria for station categorisation was based on the annual passenger
earnings only. Stations were categorised into 7 categories which A-1, A, B, C,
D, E and F. The criteria for categorisation of stations have now been revised
to include footfalls at the station. The stations have been further segregated
based on the type and clubbed into 3 groups i.e. non-suburban (NS), suburban
(S) and Halt (H). Further these groups have been put in grades ranging from
NSG1-6, SG1-3 and HG1-3 respectively.
In
the old criteria the number of stations with high passenger footfalls (handling
high number of commuter and MST pass holders etc.) could not be covered into
the higher category of station which led to these stations being eligible for
lower level of amenities. As per the new criteria the number of footfalls has
also been given equal weightage and is taken into account as criteria for
categorisation of stations. Therefore, many stations like Kalyan, Panvel,
Tambaram, Thane have qualified into the higher category and become eligible for
higher level of passenger amenities.
Under
this new scheme of categorization of railway stations, the stations have been
clubbed into 3 groups namely Non-Suburban, Suburban and Halt. Further, these
groups have been put in different grades ranging from 1-6. Accordingly
following categories have been formed.
Category
of stations
|
Criteria
of Earnings (in Rs.)
|
Criteria
of outward Passengers handled
|
I.
Non-Suburban
|
NSG
1
|
More
than 500 Crore
|
More
than 20 Million
|
NSG
2
|
100
to 500 Crore
|
10
to 20 Million
|
NSG
3
|
20
to 100 Crore
|
05
to 10 Million
|
NSG
4
|
10
to 20 Crore
|
02
to 05 Million
|
NSG
5
|
01
to 10 Crore
|
01
to 02 Million
|
NSG
6
|
Upto
01 Crore
|
Upto
01 Million
|
Total of (I) 5976
|
II.
Suburban
|
SG
1
|
More
than 25 Crore
|
More
than 30 Million
|
SG
2
|
10
to 25 Crore
|
10
to 30 Million
|
SG
3
|
Upto
10 Crore
|
Upto
10 Million
|
Total of (II) 484
|
III.
Halts
|
HG
1
|
More
than 50 Lakh
|
More
than 03 lakh
|
HG
2
|
05
to 50 lakh
|
01
to 03 lakh
|
HG
3
|
Upto
05 lakh
|
Upto
01 lakh
|
Total of (III) 2153
|
Total Number of stations (I+II+III) 8613
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Presently,
there are 5976 Non-Suburban Railway Station, 484 Suburban Railway Stations and
2153 Halts, which makes total number of stations as 8613. This categorization
of stations has been done for the period 2017-18 to 2022-23.
General
Managers shall have powers to categorize a station as NSG-4 category if it is a
place of Tourist importance and/or is an important junction station.
In
addition, Ministry of Railways has given GMs full powers to sanction out
of turn safety related works without any limit. The following amenities will be
provided at all the stations irrespective of their category for safe
performance of journey by passengers:
·
Foot
over bridge
·
High
level platform
·
Trolley
path for movement of wheel chair
For improving
stations and passenger interfaces: More amenities has been provided to lower
category of stations like:
·
Waiting
halls
·
Platform
shelters
·
Lifts
·
Escalators
·
Digital
charts display
·
Illumination
·
The
train/coach indication board
In view of the
new criteria even the small station will get the higher level of amenities
which will lead to better passenger satisfaction.
***
AKS/MKV