Tenders: 150 stations redevelopment in 2019-20

Contracts for redevelopment have been awarded for the redevelopment of Gomtinagar, Charbagh (Lucknow) and Puducherry rail stations, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on 21 June 2019.

The facilities proposed in a redeveloped station include congestion free non-conflicting entry/exit to the station premises, segregation of arrival/departure of passengers, adequate concourse without overcrowding, integration of both sides of the city wherever feasible, integration with other modes of transport systems e.g. Bus, Metro, etc., user friendly international signage, well illuminated circulating area and sufficient provision for drop off, pick up & parking etc.

Redevelopment of Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Habibganj (Bhopal) stations, Goyal said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Briefing the house, he said the Ministry through various agencies is undertaking techno-economic feasibility studies of Railway stations.

Based on the outcome of these feasibility studies, stations are planned to be taken up for redevelopment in phases, especially the stations located in major cities, pilgrimage centres and important tourist destinations.

The cost of station redevelopment project is to be met by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the stations.

Modernisation and upgradation of station in Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process.

This has been undertaken from time to time under various modernization schemes such as Model Station Scheme, Modern Station Scheme and Adarsh Station Scheme.

The ‘Model Station Scheme’ (June 1999 to November 2008) and the ‘Modern Station Scheme’ (2006-07 and 2007-08) have since been discontinued.

At present, upgradation of stations is undertaken under Adarsh Station Scheme.

Selection of Railway stations under Adarsh Station Scheme is based on the identified need for upgradation of amenities.

A total of 1,253 stations have been identified for development under Adarsh station Scheme out of which 1,103 railway stations have been developed so far and the remaining 150 stations are planned to be developed by 2019-20.

Besides there are other policies initiatives by Indian Railways to provide improved facilities at all stations.

Sixty-eight stations have been upgraded in 2018-19.

Recently, a separate policy has been made for development of stations under Station Redevelopment Programme through Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC) on ‘as is where is’ basis.

Government has approved Railways’ proposal for redevelopment of railway stations by IRSDC as Nodal Agency, through simplified procedures and for longer lease tenure.

Accordingly, all the stations on Indian Railways have been entrusted to IRSDC and other Government agencies for undertaking the techno-economic feasibility studies.

Based on the outcome of the feasibility studies, stations are planned to be taken up for redevelopment in phases especially those in major cities, pilgrimage centres and important tourist destinations.

Redevelopment of stations is planned though leveraging of commercial development of vacant land/air space in and around stations.

Construction and Modernization of all the railway stations in the country is a need based ongoing process subject to commercial justification, operational requirement, technical feasibility and resource availability, Goyal told the house. fiinews.com