The federal government has authorised the redevelopment of main railway stations utilizing cash from its personal coffers as a substitute of going for public non-public partnership (PPP), lastly bringing a readability on the funding mechanism for these mega tasks.
The Union Cupboard chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday cleared Rs 10,000 crore for the redevelopment of railway stations at New Delhi, Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), and Ahmedabad in poll-bound Gujarat. The works might be taken up beneath the engineering, procurement and development mannequin and the cash will solely come from authorities coffers, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated whereas briefing the media on the Cupboard resolution.
“Railways caters to center class and decrease center class so any further burden on passengers isn’t good. So, it has been determined to take a position finances cash within the Railways. It’s a aware resolution to redevelop all these stations beneath the EPC mannequin,” he stated.
The Indian Specific had earlier reported the federal government’s intention to instantly fund the station redevelopment works—a precedence venture monitored by the Prime Minister’s Workplace—moderately than look ahead to PPP mannequin to take off.
Vaishnaw stated the goal is to finish the redevelopment of New Delhi station in three-and-a-half years. The opposite two stations might be redeveloped in two-and-half years, he stated, including that tenders might be out in about 10 days.
“New Delhi station will combine prepare providers with buses, auto and metro rail providers. Ahmedabad station redesign is impressed by Modhera’s Solar temple. CSMT’s heritage constructing received’t be touched however buildings close by might be re-developed,” he stated.