East Coast Railway (ECoR) decided to create improved facilities for users of Bhubaneswar and Puri stations at a cost of Rs 279 crore. Indra Ghosh, general manager, ECoR said at a news conference.

   The railway division decided to upgrade facilities in the two stations after it failed to develop the stations to international standards owing to paucity of fund and land. The remodelling exercise is expected to be completed within three years keeping in view the auspicious Naba Kalebara festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri in 2015.

   Land which is required for the world class station is not available. Railway Board has frozen work on all such stations. The remodelling of the existing railway station in Bhubaneswar will see addition of many new components like multi level parking to be taken up on the public private partnership (PPP) mode at a cost of Rs 65 crore and a flyover on Master Canteen circle to be built by the state government at a cost of Rs 85 crore.

   The multi-layered parking can accommodate up to 900 cars besides offering ample space for two-wheelers and bicycles.

   On its part, ECoR will invest Rs 30 crore on a new station building and two additional platforms at an investment of Rs 20 crore.

   Following the revamp exercise, the Bhubaneswar station will have a 10-metre wide basement platform that will house all service offices of the Railways including station masters, ticket collectors, carriage examiners and electrical supervisors.