Habibganj railway station (station code: HBJ), officially Rani Kamalapati railway station (station code: RKMP), is a ISO certified[2] railway station in Bhopal, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It lies on the New Delhi–Chennai main line of the Indian Railways. It comes under West Central Railway zone (WCR) of the Indian Railways and serves as headquarters of Bhopal railway division of WCR. It serves as a secondary station to Bhopal Junction railway station (the main station in Bhopal). It is India's first private railway station.[1][3]
Habibganj railway station | |||||
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Express and Passenger train station | |||||
![]() Old (left) and new (centre) main entrance buildings of the railway station | |||||
General information | |||||
Other names | Rani Kamalapati railway station | ||||
Location | Maharana Pratap Nagar Zone 2, Bhopal-462011, Madhya Pradesh, India | ||||
Coordinates | 23°13′18″N 77°26′24″E / 23.2216°N 77.4401°E | ||||
Elevation | 495.760 metres (1,626.51 ft) | ||||
Owned by | Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation | ||||
Line(s) | Delhi–Chennai line Bhopal–Nagpur section | ||||
Platforms | 5 | ||||
Tracks | 6 | ||||
Construction | |||||
Structure type | At–ground | ||||
Platform levels | 1 | ||||
Parking | Available | ||||
Bicycle facilities | Available | ||||
Other information | |||||
Status | Active | ||||
Station code | RKMP HBJ (1920-2021) | ||||
Fare zone | West Central Railway zone | ||||
History | |||||
Opened | 1920[1] | ||||
Rebuilt | 1969[1] 2021[1] | ||||
Electrified | Yes | ||||
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History
editThe Bhopal–Itarsi section of New Delhi–Chennai main line was opened in 1884.[4][5] In 1920s, the Habibganj railway station was opened on the above section. It served the village of Habibganj, then located outside Bhopal. In 1969, the Madhya Pradesh Government redeveloped it as a second railway station in the city to decongest Bhopal railway station.[1] The family of Prince Habibullah Khan gave land and Rs 15 lakh to develop the station. Hence, it came to be known as Habibganj after Habibullah Khan himself.[6]
The Ministry of Railways privatised the railway station in June 2017, making it India's first private railway station.[7]
In November 2021, the Madhya Pradesh Government changed its name to Rani Kamalapati railway station in the memory of Gond queen Rani Kamlapati. The railway station was redeveloped again and was opened in November 2021. The station code was also changed from HBJ to RKMP.[8][9][10]
Infrastructure
editThe station has 5 platforms with 6 tracks. The railway station was redeveloped on the lines of Germany’s Heidelberg railway station and is promoted as India’s first world-class station. The station now has various facilities like large covered parking area, 24X7 power backup, drinking water, air-conditioned lobby, offices, shops, high speed escalator, lift, anchor stores, automobile showrooms, a convention centre, a hotel and a super speciality hospital.[11]
The redeveloped railway station has received GEM 5 star rating in GEM Sustainability Certification by ASSOCHAM for Green, sustainable design and eco-friendly project. The station has planned an extensive reuse of water with Zero discharge technology being utilised for sewage treatment systems. A provision of rainwater harvesting is also present at the station. To ensure clean energy, solar energy generation is implemented in the station. Around 6800 and 7300 square metres are identified for soft and hard landscaping respectively.[11]
Services
editThe station is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) away from Bhopal Junction. It lies on the New Delhi–Chennai main line of the Indian Railways. It serves as a secondary station to Bhopal Junction railway station.
See also
editOther railway stations serving Bhopal metropolitan area
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Bhopal's Habibganj station renamed after tribal queen". Hindustan Times. 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Certificate of Registration" (PDF). ranikamalapatirailwaystation.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Habibganj: Here is India's first private railway station". Business Today. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "IR History: Early Days – II". Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899). Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Introduction". Nagpur Itarsi Route. Nagpur district authorities. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
- ^ Siddique, Iram (15 November 2021). "In renaming Bhopal's Habibganj railway station, BJP's tribal outreach". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Sehra, Sumedha (9 June 2017). "What features will India's 1st privately run station have?". Inshorts. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ Tomar, Shruti (14 November 2021). "Bhopal's Habibganj station renamed after tribal queen". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ PTI (15 November 2021). "PM Modi inaugurates modern Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ "हबीबगंज हुआ रानी कमलापति रेलवे स्टेशन:MP सरकार के नोटिफिकेशन जारी करते ही प्लेटफॉर्म पर बोर्ड बदले, रविवार को आएंगे रेल मंत्री" [Habibganj is now Rani Kamlapati railway station: Boards changed on the platform as soon as the notification of the MP government was issued, the Railway Minister will come on Sunday]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 13 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ a b "World Class Railway Station | Rani Kamalapati Railway Station | Bansal Group". Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
External links
edit- World Class Railway Station | Rani Kamalapati Railway Station | Bansal Group Archived 13 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine
Preceding station | Indian Railways | Following station | ||
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Bhopal Junction towards ?
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Central Railway zone | Misrod towards ?
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