The refurbished retiring rooms and dormitories at Thanjavur railway junction are expected to be thrown open to rail travellers by November.
The renovation works is progressing in a full-fledged manner and nearly 80% of the project has been completed. The retiring rooms have been closed to travellers ever since the renovation works were taken up last year.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited, which is a Government of India Enterprise, manages the retiring rooms at the station and issued in 2022 the Letter of Award to a private agency for renovation, operation, maintenance and transfer back of the retiring rooms and dormitories for a period of nine years from the date of commissioning of the unit.
There are eight retiring rooms at the station each of which is being provided with air-conditioning facility and a double bed cot. There are two dormitory rooms with nine beds in each room.
According to an IRCTC official, the renovation works are proceeding in full swing with civil works having been completed. The renovation is being executed at a cost of around ₹50 lakh. The interiors in the retiring rooms and dormitories have been given a facelift to enable bonafide railway passengers to have a pleasant short stay.
Electrical works are to be completed, and the plan is to open the renovated rooms and dormitories by November. The short stay at the retiring rooms ranges from six hours to 48 hours. Plans are afoot to paint the walls to reflect the local heritage and culture, the official said.
Thanjavur junction is ranked third in Tiruchi Railway Division in respect of passenger earnings and the number of passengers handled in 2022- 2023 financial year. The station’s earnings in 2022-2023 annual was ₹43.1 crore. It had handled a little over 36 lakh passengers during the same period.
