Passengers at Dhanbad station are in for a double treat, with two digital boards displaying train timings and a new approach road to the station which is likely to be ready by Republic Day.

Dhanbad railway division last week put up two large digital signboards outside the station displaying the arrival status of trains. These signboards can display information of around 10 trains at a time.

Senior divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad division, East Central Railway, Akhilesh Kumar Pandey said: “The digital signboards will prove convenient for passengers hurrying to catch trains as they can directly go to the platform without waiting at the enquiry counter.”

The move is aimed at increasing passenger amenities at Dhanbad station, an A-1 grade station of Dhanbad division. This apart, an approach road is also being built — by Dhanbad division at a cost of Rs 2 crore — towards the south side extension complex of the station, Pandey said.

“The new approach road passes through the old and unused Jharia railway line. It is being built since October 20 and will be ready next month,” he said. “We felt the need for the new approach road as the existing approach road passing through Purana Bazar locality is too narrow and is encroached by pavement shops.”

A railway functionary said the approach road was likely to be opened to the public as a Republic Day gift. “It will also ease traffic snarls on Dhanbad’s Bank Mor bridge as passengers from suburban Jharia, Jorapokhar, Sudamdih and Patherdih can reach the station using the new road.”

Expansion plan

Dhanbad railway division of East Central Railway will revamp the yard and Patherdih station on the border of East Central Railway and South Eastern Railway, 16km from Dhanbad, at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Divisional railway manager Anil Kumar Mishra on Tuesday visited Patherdih Traffic Colony where the new station complex of Patherdih will be built.