APPROACH PAPER : INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF AGRA WITH A
VIEW TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE RAIL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM IN AGRA AND PLAN FUTURE
GROWTH OF CITY IN ORDER TO MAKE AGRA A SUSTAINABLE SMART CITY
· Introduction. Agra despite having three heritage
monuments, one of the wonders of the world and an important tourist destination
has not seen development which a city like Agra must have. This approach paper aims
to address the issues affecting Agra and lay a road map for environment friendly
sustainable development of Agra as a smart city and a city for 2020. Overall planning must
include development of Agra and Mathura on twin city concept. Strength and weakness of city can help to
focus on infrastructure development. Strength
: Located on main Artery of Indian Railway and North South corridor, an
important tourist destination, Important trading centre and availability of
human resources. Weakness : Unplanned
growth, encroachment, road congestion, poor sewage and drainage system,
inadequate public transport system and high density of population.
·
This approach paper covers three
aspects as under mentioned :-
· Part I : Railway infrastructure development with provision for additional usage as Rail Rapid Transit System.
·
Part
II : Road
infrastructure development
·
Part
III : Development of satellite township around Agra
PART I : RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
·
There is a need to make optimum
utilization of existing rail infrastructure with some fresh constructions to
address needs of local commuters and population. Local stations accommodating six
to eight coach MEMU trains can be
constructed, all stations can be provided with Battery operated buses/ e
rikshaw service to provide affordable transport up to 2 kms from each station.
Rail route from Agra Yamuna Bridge to Raja Ki Mandi and from Agra Idgah Jn to
Fatehpur Sikri can be used exclusively for local rail transport corridor.
·
RRTS
Projects Six RRTs
projects are proposed for Agra as under :-
·
Route
One : Chhalesar – Agra Cantt
·
Route
Two : Agra Idgah Jn and Mirhakur extendable to Fatehpur Sikri
·
Route
Three : Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri extendable to Runkuta
via Panwari with construction of new railway line
·
Route
Four : Raja ki Mandi and Agra Yamuna Bridge via Agra
City
·
Route
Five : Agra Cantt and Keetham
· Route Six : Agra Cantt to Idhah Bus Stand
PROJECT I : ROUTE ONE
·
Route
One : Chhalesar – Agra Cantt Route to provide affordable and convenient
connectivity between Chhalesar and Agra Cantt through six coach MEMU.
·
Route Chhalesar – New Station – New
station - Agra Yamuna Bridge – Agra Fort – New Station – New Station – Agra
Idgah Jn – New Station – Agra Cantt.
·
Length 14.2 Km
·
No
of Stations 10
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Double
track between Chhalesar and Agra Yamuna Bridge
§ Single
track between Agra Yamuna Bridge and Agra Fort
§ Double
track between Agra Fort and Agra Idgah Jn
§ Single
track between Agra Idgah Jn and Agra Cantt
§ Existing
Stations at Chhalesar, Agra Yamuna Bridge, Agra Fort, Agra Idgah Jn and Agra
Cantt
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Doubling
of Existing Railway Line Between Agra Idgah Jn to Agra Cantt
§ Establishment
of two New RRTS Railway Station between Chhalesar and Agra Yamuna Bridge
§ Establishment
of two New RRTS Railway Station between Agra Fort and Agra Idgah Jn
§ Establishment
of one new RRTS station between Agra Idgah Jn and Agra Cantt near Rail Over Bridge.
PROJECT II : RRTS TWO
· RRTS Two : Agra Idgah Jn and Mirhakur extendable to Fatehpur Sikri to provide affordable and convenient connectivity between Agra Idgah Jn and Mirhakur through six coach MEMU. This should be used exclusively for local rail corridor and a new rail line be constructed from Achhnera to Fatehpur Sikri for all rail traffic towards Bayana jn.
·
Route Agra Idgah Jn – New Station – New
Station – New Station - Patholi – New Station – New Station – New Station - Mirhakur
·
Length 13.6 Km (up to Mirhakur)
·
No
of Stations 09
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Single
track between Agra Idgah Jn and Fatehpur Sikri
§ Existing
Stations at Agra Idgah Jn, Patholi, Mirhakur, Kiraoli, Singarpur and Fatehpur
Sikri.
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Doubling
of Existing Railway Line Between Agra Idgah Jn to Mirhakur extendable to
Fatehpur Sikri later
§ Establishment
of three New RRTS Railway Station between Agra Idgaj Jn and Patholi
§ Establishment
of three New RRTS Railway Station between Patholi and Mirhakur
PROJECT III : RRTS THREE
·
RRTS
Three : Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri Extendable to Runkuta to provide
affordable and convenient connectivity between Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri
through six coach MEMU.
·
Route Agra Idgah Jn – New Station – New
Station – New station – New station – New Station - Bichpuri.
·
Length 09 Km
·
No
of Stations 07
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Single
track between Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri,
§ Existing
Stations at Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Doubling
of Existing Railway Line Between Agra Idgah Jn to Bichpuri, Doubling between
Agra Fort and Bandikui Jn covering this section has already been sanctioned in
Budget for 2018-19.
§ Establishment
of five New RRTS Railway Station between Agra Idgah Jn and Bichpuri near Rui Ki
Mandi Crossing, Prithvinath Mandir, Dauretha, Kalwari and Goenka School.
§ This
network can be further extended to Runkuta by constructing double railway line
between Bichpuri and Runkuta and establishment of three new RRTS railway
Station between Bichpuri and Runkuta.
PROJECT IV
: RRTS FOUR
·
RRTS
Four : Raja Ki
Mandi and Agra
Yamuna Bridge via Agra City to
provide affordable and convenient connectivity between Raja Ki Mandi and Agra
Yamuna Bridge Station via Agra City through six coach MEMU.
·
Route Raja ki Mandi – New Station (St
Johns College) – Agra City – New Station (Agra Yamuna Bank) - Agra Yamuna Bridge.
·
Length 09 Km
·
No
of Stations 05
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Double
track between Raja Ki Mandi and Agra City
§ Single
track between Agra City and Agra Yamuna Bridge
§ Existing
Stations at Raja Ki Mandi, Agra City and Agra Yamuna Bridge
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Establishment
of two new railway stations between Raja Ki Mandi and Agra Yamuna Bridge for
local commuters, one each could be near St Johns College, Yamuna Bank each.
PROJECT IV
: RRTS FIVE
·
RRTS
FIVE : Agra Cantt
and Keetham to
provide affordable and convenient connectivity between Agra Cantt and Keetham Station
through six coach MEMU.
·
Route Agra Cantt – New Station (Rui Ki
Mandi ROB), New Station (Shahganj ROB) – New station (Panchkuia ROB)– New
station(GIC ROB) – New station (Raja Mandi Bazar) - Raja ki Mandi – Billochpura
– New Station – New Station – New station - Runkuta - New Station – New Station
- Keetham.
·
Length 23.5 Km
·
No
of Stations 15
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Double
track between Agra Cantt and Keetham
§ Existing
Stations at Agra Cantt, Raja Ki Mandi, Billochpura, Runkuta and Keetham
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Quadrupling
of Existing Railway Line Between Agra Cantt to Raja Ki Mandi. Existing Raja Ki
Mandi station can be converted in to sub urban station to accommodate 12 coach
MEMU.
§ Establishment
of five New RRTS Railway Station between Agra Cantt and Raja Ki Mandi Station one each could be
near Raja Mandi Bazar Crossing, GIC ROB, Panchkuia ROB, Shahganj ROB, and
another could be Near Rui Ki Mandi ROB which can also serve as interchange
station between three Rail Rapid transit routes i. e. RRTS Two RRTS Three and
RRTs Five
§ Establishment
of three new RRTS station between Billochpura and Runkuta
§ Establishment
of two new station between Runkuta and Keetham.
§ Raja
Ki Mandi Station can serve as interchange station for RRTS Four and RRTS Five.
§ Establishment
of RRTS terminus station with four platform at Goods Shed at Agra Cantt Station.
§ A
railway bypass connecting Achhnera Jn and Bhandai will divert all goods traffic
making Mathura Jn - Agra Cantt route
less congested.
PROJECT IV
: RRTS SIX
· RRTS
Six : Agra Cantt To Idgah Bus Stand to provide
affordable, swift and convenient connectivity between Agra Cantt railway
station and Idgah bus stand throgh two EMU/Tram service.
·
Route Agra Cantt New Station - Idgah Bus stand.
·
Length 2.5 Km
·
No
of Stations 03
·
Available
infrastructure
§ Single
track in disuse between Agra Cantt and Supply Depot Agra
§ Railway
station at Agra Cantt
·
Infrastructure
Required
§ Establishment
of electrified track and one new railway station at Idgah Bus stand for local
commuters, this would facilitate easy commuting between Agra Cantt station and
Idgah Bus Stand.
Summary of Infrastructure Required
·
Railway infrastructure required for
development of rail rapid transit system in Agra is as given below :-
·
New
Railway Lines
§ Doubling of Existing Railway Line
Between Mathura Jn and Achhnera Jn and Construction of New Railway Line
(Double) between Achhnera and Bhandai Jn. This will provide a railway bypass
for Agra and diversion of all goods traffic and non stopping trains through
proposed new lines thus decongesting existing route between Agra and Mathura via
Farah and creating more rail route space. Rail over bridge at Achhnera and
Bhandai can be planned to avoid interference with rail traffic on both the main
routes. This will create route space on existing railway track between Agra
Cantt and Mathura Jn which can be utilized to run six coach MEMU between
Keetham and Agra Cantt and will take off considerable road traffic from Agra
Delhi NH and MG Road.
§ Doubling of Existing Railway Line
Between Achhnera Jn and Agra Idgah Jn. This will create rail route space for
Rapid Rail Transit System between Agra Yamuna Bridge and Achhnera Jn covering
large parts of Agra City and sub urban areas. Doubling project between Agra Idgah
Jn and Bandikui Jn has already been sanctioned.
§ Quadrupling of Existing Railway
Line Between Raja Ki Mandi Jn and Agra Cantt. Construction of two new railway lines
parallel to existing lines between Agra Cantt and Raja Ki Mandi railway station
for local MEMU trains to address requirement of local commuters and decongest roads
in Agra.
§
Construction
of New Railway Line (Single) between Achhnera and Fatehpur Sikri.
This can make existing railway line
between Agra Idgah Jn and Fatehpur Sikri
available solely for sub urban trains between Agra Yamuna Bridge and Fatehpur
Sikri and will provide swift and
convenient transport system with civil airport and Fatehpur Sikri, a world
heritage site. This will also boost tourism.
·
Development
of Existing Railway Stations
§ Development of Railway Station at Agra
Yamuna Bridge and Agra Idgah as Terminus Station.
Yamuna Bridge and Idgah Agra Jn
should be renamed as Agra Yamuna Bridge
Jn and Agra Central. West and East bound trains may be originated from these
stations so as to distribute road traffic bound for Agra Cantt station amongst
these stations
§ Development of Billochpura, Bichpuri, Pathauli and Yamuna Bridge Railway Station as Satellite Stations of Agra. A large population is residing near these stations, these stations can be developed as satellite stations and stoppage of few important trains can be provided at these stations for benefit of passengers, this will definitely reduce road traffic on MG Road, the main artery of the city.
§ Development of Chhalesar, Fatehpur Sikri, Keetham and Agra Yamuna Bridge Railway Station as Terminus Station for RRTS Development of Chhalesar, Fatehpur Sikri, Keetham and Agra Cantt as terminus station for MEMU trains for five local train networks (RRTS) in Agra. These five routes will provide an affordable Rail Rapid transit system to Agra and can be developed with low cost.
§ Parcel
Office at Agra Cantt railway station can be developed as Terminus for RRTS with
four platform. Suggested design of RRTS station at Agra Cantt is enclosed.
·
Establishment
of New Railway Stations
§ Establishment of New Railway
Station for RRTS I (Chhalesar – Agra Cantt Route) Establishment of two new railway station
between Agra Fort and Agra Idgah, one each near Subhash Bazaar and Raoli Mandir
at ROB.
§ Establishment of New Railway
Station for RRTS II (Agra Idgah Jn Kiraoli Extendable to Fatehpur Sikri Route) Establishment
of three new railway station between
Agra Idgah Jn and Pathauli, three new station between Pathauli and Kiraoli. Train with vista dome
coaches can run on this route.
§ Establishment of New Railway
Station for RRTS III (Agra Idgah Jn Bichpuri Extendable to Keetham Route)
Establishment of five new stations
between Agra Idgah and Bichpuri to cater for local commuters, one each could be
at Rui Ki Mandi, Prithvinath Mandir, Doeretha, Kalwari and Goenka School,
additional stations can also be planned at every two kilometer distance for future growth.
§ Establishment of New Railway
Station for RRTS IV (Agra
Yamuna Bridge and Raja Ki Mandi ) Establishment
of one new railway station at St Johns College
between Agra City and Raja ki Mandi for
local commuters.
§ Establishment of New Railway
Station for RRTS V (Agra Cantt and
Keetham Route
Establishment of five new stations between Raja Ki Mandi and Agra Cantt,
three new railway stations between Billochpura and Runkuta and two new stations
between Runkuta and Keetham to cater for local commuters.
§ Establishment of New Railway Station for RRTS VI (Agra Cantt and Idgah Bus Stand Route Establishment of one new stations at Idgah Bus stand to cater for local commuters and transit passengers.
·
Operations. Operations
of RRTS can be with a frequency of every 15 minutes during peak hours and 30
and 60 minutes during non peak hours. Suggested schedule is as under :-
§
First trip - 0600 hr
§
last trip - 2300 hr
§
No of trips - 44
§
Frequency - Every 15 mins (from 0600 – 0900 hr)(12)
(from 1600 – 2000 hr)(16)
- Every 30
mins (from 0900 – 1200 hr)(06)
(from 1500 – 1600 hr)(04)
- Every 60
mins (from 1200 – 1500 hr)(03)
(from 2000 – 2300 hr)(03)
·
Capacity
of one RRTS Train
§ Motor
Coach - 55 Passenger (sitting), 171 (standing)
§ Trailer
coach - 84 Passenger (sitting), 241(standing)
§ Capacity
Motor coach - 171 Passengers
§ Capacity
Trailer coach - 241 Passengers
§ Total
capacity of one unit - (2x171=342)+(4x241=964)
= 1306
§ Total
capacity (trips x capacity) - 44x1306=57,464
Passengers/Day
§ Capacity
Five RRTS - 5x57464= 2,87,320 Passengers/Day
Capacity can be enhanced further
depending upon traffic volume.
(May be verified with latest data)
PART II : ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT
Additional roads to decongest city and plan future growth are as under :
·
Construction of six lane upgradable
to twelve lanes new road between Agra
and Vrindavan Road Jn in Mathura via
Bichpuri – Achhnera - Parkham and Bhainsa
parallel to existing Mathura – Achhnera – Parkham - Bhainsa railway line to
provide additional artery between Agra and Mathura to plan future development.
·
Construction of six lane upgradable
to eight lanes new road between Nagla
Laljit (Agra – Gwalior Road) to Malpura (Agra - Jaipur Road) via Ajijpur.
·
Construction of six lane upgradable
to eight lanes new road between Keetham
to Kanora Bangar connecting Agra Mathura NH and Yamuna Express Way
·
Construction of road connecting Panchkuia and Idgah with ROB near Idgah Jn Agra to create additional road space parallel to MG
Road.
·
There can be free road transport
service for local commuters in Agra on select routes. Suggested routes are as
under mentioned :-
·
Route
One. Runkuta – Sikandara – Bodla – Meena Bazar – Subhash Park
– Pratap Pura – Sadar Bazar - Madhu Nagar – Sewla Jat
·
Route
Two. Runkuta –
Sikandara – Bhagwan Talkies – Kamla Nagar – Water Works - Ram Bagh Crossing
·
Route
Three. Dayal
Bagh – Bhagwan Talkies – Soor Sadan – Hari Parbat – Subhash Park – Pratap Pura
– Agra Cantt
·
Route
Four. Agra Cantt - Mall Road – Fatehabad Road – Hotel Ramada
·
Route
Five. Agra
Cantt – Mall Road – Hotel Clark Shiraj -
Yamuna Kinara – Kachahari Ghat – Water Works Crossing
PART III : DEVELOPMENT OF SATELLITE TOWNSHIPS AROUND AGRA
There is a need to develop satellite township with necessary basic infrastructure to encourage local population and new generation to opt for these township for residence. Township can be planned to cater for a population of min One lakh. Basic infrastructure to be provided at these township as under :-
·
Schooling up to Class XII
·
Degree College
·
Sub District Courts
·
Police Station
·
Post Office
·
Primary Health Centre
·
Sub District Hospital
· Common Service Centre for Power, Water supply, Sewage, Sanitation, Driving License, House tax, Water tax, Telephone, Aadhar card, PAN card, Birth & Death registration etc
·
Townships. Township which can be developed around Agra
are as under :-
·
Bichpuri Bichpuri can be developed as a satellite
residential township and education hub will have good connectivity with Agra,
Mathura and Jaipur. A road connectivity can be provided between Bichpuri
Railway station and Civil Airport being developed.
·
Pathauli
Pathauli
can be developed as a satellite residential township and connecting station for
Agra Airport, will have good connectivity with Agra, Mathura and Jaipur. A road
connectivity can be provided between Pathauli railway station and Civil Airport
being developed
·
Mirhakur Mirhakur can be developed as a satellite
residential township will have good connectivity with Agra, Mathura and Jaipur.
·
Runkuta Partly developed, Runkuta can be further developed as non polluting
Industrial area and a satellite residential township and education hub.
·
Keetham Partly
developed. Ideal for development as a Eco tourism project, bird sanctuary. No
township should be planned here.
· Conclusion Since
there is no scope for widening of internal roads in Agra, a well planned growth
model for Agra will be a right step for
encouraging people to move to these satellite towns where affordable
connectivity can be provided. There is a urgent need to decongest city to plan
any workable solution for city traffic management. There is a need to think out
of box and plan a growth model for layout of Agra to cater to the futuristic
needs of city for next 20-30 years. Railway has to play a very important role
in development of RRTS in Agra. Agra Smart City Corporation, Indian Railways, District
Administration Agra, Nagar Nigam Agra, Agra Development Authority and NHAI need
to work together to prepare a road map for a planned growth. RRTS and
infrastructure development suggested above can be developed with very low cost
and partly can be started immediately. This will address the need of people of
Agra next 20 to 30 years and also reduce pollution to a great extent.
Prepared in
Public Interest by Rajesh Maliwal
DEVELOPMENT OF RAIL ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN AGRA
RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE : EXISTING AND PROPOSED FOR RRTS IN
AGRA
SUGGESTED LAYOUT OF RRTS STATION AT AGRA CANTT
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