Amritsar Central Railway Station (station code: ASR) is a railway located in Amritsar district in the Indian state of Punjab and serves Amritsar. It is the largest and busiest railway station of Punjab.
Amritsar | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junction station and Central station | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Amritsar Junction board | ||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | GT Road, Putlighar Road, Amritsar, Punjab India | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 31°37′58″N 74°52′02″E / 31.63278°N 74.86722°E | |||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 233 metres (764 ft) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Indian Railways | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Northern Railways | |||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 10 (8 commercial + 1 freight + 1 Military Forces and Parcel) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 10 broad gauge | |||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Standard on ground | |||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible |  Available | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Functioning | |||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | ASR | |||||||||||||||||||
| Zone(s) | Northern Railway zone | |||||||||||||||||||
| Division(s) | Firozpur | |||||||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1862 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | 2003–04 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 100000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||||||
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History
editThe Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway completed the Multan–Lahore–Amritsar line in 1865.[1] The Amritsar–Attari section was completed on the route to Lahore in 1862.[2]
The 78 km (48 mi)-long Amritsar–Khem Karan railway line runs through Tarn Taran and Patti.
A 54 km (34 mi)-long line links Amritsar to Dera Baba Nanak on the bank of the Ravi.[3]
The 107 km (66 mi) Amritsar–Pathankot route runs through Batala and Gurdaspur.[3] The 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge Amritsar–Pathankot line was opened in 1884.[4]
Overview
editThe Amritsar railway station is located at an elevation of 233 metres (764 ft) and was assigned the code "ASR." With this, it has become the busiest railway station of the state in terms of passenger movement and train traffic. In the 2016 railway budget, the government has aimed to beautify the railway station as it is the main station of the holy city.[5] The railway station is the first and only with WiFi in the division and CCTV has recently been enabled.[6] In the recent railway budget, it has been mentioned that Amritsar Junction will be improved due to its importance in various fields.[7] The Movement Control Office (MCO) for Armed Forces is also available at PF no 1.
There are ten platforms under use, 1(A), 1(B), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Platform no. 8 is used for freight trains. Platform no. 1(B) is reserved exclusively for freight and passenger trains of Indian Army.
Electrification
editThe Phagwara–Jallandhar City–Amritsar sector was electrified in 2003–04.[8]
Development
editAmritsar became the first railway station in the state to be WiFi-enabled. Following this announcement, concerns have been raised regarding the need to increase the station's capacity from the current 6 platforms to 8 platforms, aligning with International Airport standards. This is due to the fact that it is the most important and busiest railway terminus of the state. Additionally, two more escalators would be installed in the station from Platform 5, as Platform 1 has already two. Platforms 6 and 7 were initiated in January 2018 in response to the substantial passenger movement within the city.[9]
Upcoming projects
editThe electrification work is under progress on the Amritsar–Khemkaran line. This is because, a new rail line has been passed by the railways from Patti, Punjab to Ferozpur which will reduce the distance of Amritsar from Ferozpur by 80 km. This will also reduces the distance and save the time to visit Rajasthan and Gujarat from Northern cities.
It has been planned to run Express trains on this route.
In December 2019, it has been announced that Bhagtanwala railway station and Chheharta railway station will be converted into satellite stations. Due to this the burden on Amritsar Junction railway station can be reduced.
Railway workshop
editAmritsar railway workshop carries out a periodic overhaul of WDS-4 locos and breakdown cranes and bogie manufacture.[10]
References
edit- ^ R. P. Saxena. "Indian Railway History timeline". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ^ "Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway". fibis. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ a b "Railway routes in Punjab". Punjab Data. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ "Chapter VII". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "More funds, little else for region". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Railway police to install CCTV cameras at major stations in Punjab | punjab | Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Rail budget: Prabhu quotes Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Buddha – News". mid-day.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Amritsar rly station first in Punjab to get Wi-Fi enabled". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
External links
edit- Amritsar Junction railway station at the India Rail Info
Amritsar travel guide from Wikivoyage