South Central Railway (SCR) will redevelop the Moula Ali railway station as an Adarsh station under the railway ministry’s flagship scheme of improvements in all amenities at stations. Moula Ali is a non suburban Grade – 5 railway station. This station is 5km from Secunderabad on the busy Secunderabad-Kazipet section of Secunderabad Division.
In the recent times, surrounding areas of this station have seen rapid progress with establishment of thickly populated residential colonies, fast replacing the idle industrial township it was a few decades back. The next station Cherlapalli has been touted as the upcoming terminus being developed to handle the increasing number of trains to the fifth largest metropolitan area in the country.
On an average about 10 Express trains and an equal number of passenger trains arrive/depart from Moula Ali. The average traffic flow is approximately 2500 passengers per day. In order to cater to the passenger growth envisaged as part of the MMTS Phase 2 project of connecting Secunderabad with Ghatkesar, this station is being developed as an Adarsh station and several enhanced passenger amenities and facilities are to be provided at an expenditure of Rs. 3.5 Crores.
The Adarsh Station works had been sanctioned back in the financial year 2016-17, out of a total such 67 stations targeted to be developed.
Improved facilities provided at Moula Ali station include improvement to the façade of station building, waiting room for travelling passengers, earmarked parking facilities for Divyangjan and others, non slippery walkway from parking lot to station building, ramps for entry of Divyangjan and senior citizens, modern and elegant signage boards, pay and use toilets, improvements to platform surface, platform wall with land scaping, adequate drinking water arrangements and improvement to booking and enquiry offices. In addition to these, a long overdue foot over bridge is under construction at an estimated cost of Rs 1.6 crore which is nearing completion.
There are a few points that the railways need to act on as well. The station is about 1km away from the main road nestled in an isolated area surrounded completely by railway land which includes a yard, diesel loco shed, railway staff colony and vacant land.
The approach to the station is a dimly lit 30 ft road which does not elicit confidence in users, especially the women, kids and elderly. It also includes a level crossing across the line leading to the loco shed. The railways need to ensure that a proper approach road is developed, signboards put up, adequate facilities for parking of vehicles, public transport facilities in association with auto unions, TSRTC for city buses and radio cabs are developed simultaneously to ensure a proper utilization of the station.