Nation / Sat, 18 Jul 2026 The Tribune

Day after opening, ‘airport-like’ Jalandhar railway station falls short on promises

AdvertisementTravellers who visited after watching videos of the revamped station said they expected better facilities but were disappointed to find even basic arrangements missing. AdvertisementThe 110-year-old British-era railway station was redeveloped at a cost of Rs 125 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. “We came here expecting better facilities after watching videos of the new station. Manjinder Singh, a passenger travelling to Amritsar, said, “I came here expecting a modern station with better facilities. Station Superintendent Jan Bahadur Patel said, “The operations of the redeveloped station are yet to be taken over by the Railways.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Jalandhar Cantt railway station with a promise of an “airport-like experience”, several of the much-touted facilities remain out of reach of passengers, with many struggling to find even basic amenities.

Travellers who visited after watching videos of the revamped station said they expected better facilities but were disappointed to find even basic arrangements missing.

The 110-year-old British-era railway station was redeveloped at a cost of Rs 125 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. During the inauguration, the facility was projected as a symbol of modern passenger amenities.

But on the ground, several passengers, including children and elderly, were seen sitting on the floor in humid weather. On the platforms, passengers were fanning themselves amid inadequate cooling arrangements.

Adding to the distress, the air-conditioned waiting halls on the ground floor remained closed. Several travellers gathered near the entrance, where ceiling fans offered some relief. Aniket Kumar, who was travelling to Gwalior, said he was excited to visit the station after hearing about the promised facilities but was disappointed on arrival. “We came here expecting better facilities after watching videos of the new station. But the waiting rooms are closed, and we have no option but to sit here. It is cooler near the entrance due to the fans while sitting at the platforms for long periods becomes difficult because of the heat,” he said.

The inconvenience was not limited to waiting arrangements. None of the nine escalators installed at the station was operational.

Manjinder Singh, a passenger travelling to Amritsar, said, “I came here expecting a modern station with better facilities. But the escalators, which are meant to help us carry luggage, are not working. Now, I am carrying my luggage up the stairs,” he said. The women’s waiting room on the first floor, projected as a secure space for solo women travellers, also falls short on its promise. In the absence of monitoring, male passengers were seen sitting inside the facility.

Station Superintendent Jan Bahadur Patel said, “The operations of the redeveloped station are yet to be taken over by the Railways. The facilities are currently under private contractors who are conducting trials of the equipment. After proper checks to ensure everything is functioning smoothly, the station will be handed over.”