Hyderabad: The Rs 450-crore terminal at Cherlapalli, equipped with modern passenger and rail facilities and similar to an airport lounge, is set to be inaugurated by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnava on December 28.
The terminal will provide a large circulation area with ample parking facilities, five lifts and five escalators connecting all platforms, parcel booking facility and other passenger facilities. It will have the capacity to handle 25 pairs of trains.
Key features of the project include the construction of four new high-level platforms along with the augmentation and expansion of existing platforms.
The new station building will also have six ticket booking counters, a waiting room, a superior waiting room, an executive lounge, a cafeteria, a restaurant, and ladies and gentlemen capsules.
It was developed to reduce congestion at Secunderabad, Kacheguda and Hyderabad stations. The project, which was approved in 2018, was initially delayed due to land acquisition issues. Indian Railways proceeded with construction within its available land.
Charlapally station falls under MMTS Phase II project connecting Maula Ali and Ghatkesar. Ongoing activities include widening existing platforms, building new platforms for MMTS services, and improving infrastructure for better connectivity.
Five hundred trees were relocated and 5,500 trees were planted under compensatory afforestation efforts.
There are improved infrastructural facilities for railways, including one STP and one ETP to provide recycled water for railway purposes with a capacity of 2 lakh liters per day.