City, Mohali rly stations to be redeveloped as world class

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 25

The government has earmarked a long-term loan of US $500 million, with a moratorium on interest payment for seven years, for redeveloping eight railway stations, including those in Chandigarh and Mohali.

A decision on modernising the Ambala and Ludhiana railway stations on the basis of government-to-government long-term funding by the French national railways (SNCF) has already been taken.

“The ministry intends to rope in the World Bank for a $500-million loan for redeveloping the stations. This will be in addition to the Ambala and Ludhiana stations for which the French Rail Corporation has been allotted consultancy,” an official said.

If everything goes well, the Railway Ministry will soon hand over the stations at Chandigarh, Mohali (Punjab), Habibganj (Lucknow), Bijwasan and Anand Vihar (Delhi), Surat, Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Shivaji Nagar (Mumbai) to the largest public sector construction company (NBCC) to turn these into world-class facilities.

A Cabinet note in this regard has already been initiated.

The ministry will next month come out with a modal document approved by the Railway Board, which would be the basis for private players to become a part of the exercise for redevelopment of stations to world-class standards. “After the Modal Document is made available to public in June, the zonal railways will begin inviting proposals from the private players to take part in the redevelopment exercise,” said the official.

The Habibganj station will be the first to be awarded to a private player for redevelopment. The Railways has constituted Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC), which will be the nodal agency to execute the redevelopment of the station project to the world-class status.

According to the plan, the redevelopment of stations would constitute not only better facilities there but would also include developing the area into a commercial and residential hub, the official said, adding that all these stations would have separate departure and arrival lounges on the lines of modern airports, which would help the Railways better manage passenger movements.