India will get its first railway station built under a Public-Private-Partnership complete with world class facilities
Words: Vandana Devi Images: Various Sources
Indian Railways will be adopting three models for station redevelopment. One is the Public-Private-Partnership model, the second is collaboration with foreign governments and the third is the Swiss Challenge method.
Habibganj, Bhopal is set to be the first railway station in India, built under a Public-Private Partnership. Bansal Group has been awarded the contract to build, maintain and operate the station for eight years. They are looking to make the station at par with international standards.
Bansal Group received four land parcels on a 45-year lease. They will be investing Rs. 100 crore to overhaul the station and around Rs. 350 crore to develop the four commercial land parcels. With shopping complexes, food stalls, hospitals and so on, Habibganj may redefine the concept of railway stations in India.
The Habibganj station will be designed with many amenities for passengers, and it will also be made environment and differently-abled friendly. Indian Railways has been looking at various means to modernise and upgrade passenger amenities at stations and such partnerships are helping towards the same. The success of this project will give confidence to infrastructure developers who are cautious about investing in such projects.