With 2019 Elections Approaching, Railways Plans to Develop 68 Stations

New Delhi: With the much-touted redevelopment of 600 stations through a public-private-partnership model not happening in the near future, the Indian Railways has changed gears to develop 68 stations of its own at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore in a bid to showcase something concrete before the 2019 polls.

With the general elections slated to be held early next year, the state-run transporter has firmed up an action plan for development of 68 stations – each division will have one station – to be carried out by railways itself expeditiously by December 2018.  The railways has 68 divisions.

Aimed at soothing the frayed nerves of passengers, who often complain of poor facilities at stations, the development work involves coming out with improved basic amenities at stations.

While the redevelopment of 600 stations involves the participation of private players through a bidding process, with no funds from the national transporter, the development of 68 stations will be funded by the railways itself. 

Since it was taking time to get the redevelopment project taking off, railways is going ahead to carry out upgradation work at a few selected stations to offer better amenities for passengers, sources said.

While the redevelopment plan involves a complete revamp of the station with big ticket investment by private players, the upgradation work to be carried out by railways envisages improvement of facade of the station building, upgradation of passenger amenities including improved waiting halls, retiring rooms, drinking water and toilet facilities, provision of LED lights, modular catering kiosks and signages and steel benches are part of the works to be undertaken at stations.

In the 2018 union budget, the railways proposed the redevelopment of 600 stations with private participation for which the state-run transporter is seeking cabinet approval to extend the lease period from 45 years to 99 years.

The Modi government had earlier approved the same redevelopment plan for 403 stations through a PPP model during the-then railway minister Suresh Prabhu 's tenure in July 2015.

However, not satisfied with the end results and slow progress as not many real estate players showed much interest, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal decided to change the terms and conditions of the contracts again to make it more market-friendly. While earlier the lease period was only for 45 years, it was increased to 99 years with an additional provision of allowing development of residential complex in the redevelopment plan.

The redevelopment of station envisages construction of malls, hotels, eateries, office complex, parking lots and other commercial exploitation on station premises by private players besides creation of modern passenger amenities with no cost to the railways.

The ambitious proposal with changed terms and conditions is still awaiting the Cabinet's approval. 

So, as a parallel measure, the railways has rushed to develop 68 stations of its own for improvement in the facade of the station building, circulating areas and upgradation of passenger amenities by railways itself as the grand plan of redevelopment project taking longer and longer.

The emphasis is to have visible change in select stations without construction all over in the near future, according to railways.

Railways is also exploring to create some facilities like selfie points at stations as part of the upgradation plan. Besides, lifts and escalators, construction of boundary wall for trespass control and security. Foot-over bridges connecting platforms are also to be provided to enhance the experience of passengers. 

The state transporter has 68 divisions and each division will have at least one station to be showcased with better amenities and comforts to passengers, according to the plan.       

Arun Kumar Das is a senior journalist. He can be contacted at akdas2005@gmail.com.

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