National

22 rail stations to become world-class

NEW DELHI: The Railway Ministry’s plans to develop major stations in metros and other prominent cities into world-class facilities have received good response from international bidders.

Half-a-dozen of them have shown a keen interest in being part of the redevelopment project.

Hong Kong-based Terry Ferrell has already been appointed architect and technical consultant for the New Delhi station.

If everything works out as per plans and construction and redevelopment work starts as scheduled, almost two dozen stations will sport a world-class look equipped with modern amenities before the start of the Commonwealth Games scheduled for the second half of 2010, according to a senior Ministry official.

Twentytwo stations will be developed through the public-private partnership (PPP) route. Apart from the metros — New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai — the stations which are part of the project are Agra, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubhaneswar, Chandigarh, Howrah, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mathura, Patna, Pune, Secunderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Varanasi, besides Anand Vihar and Bijwasan (both Delhi).

“We have already started the process for prequalification of bidders and a global advertisement has been issued. International consultants and developers which have shown interest in our project include Terry Farrell, HOK Smith Limited and Aedas Limited (all based in Hong Kong), Von Grehan Partners International (Germany) and Arep Ville (France).

As word spreads, we will see more global bidders of repute contacting us,” the official said.

To attract big developers through the PPP route, the Ministry is also exploring real estate development potential at these stations that includes opening Internet cafes, ATMs and popular eating joints.

It is holding consultations for architectural, technical, financial and legal activities, besides coordinating with local bodies and other civic authorities on land and civic issues through specially constituted high-level committees.

For the New Delhi station, Terry Ferrell will complete its assignment and submit a master plan and feasibility report by February.

Construction and development will be subsequently allotted on the PPP basis through competitive selection.

The successful bidder will not only convert the station into a world-class facility but also develop surrounding areas as an iconic landmark of Delhi.

The bidder will be allowed specified property development rights for a fixed concession period of 35 years. “When completed, the station would provide generous space for departing and arriving passengers with minimum conflict or congestion.

Concourses at different levels, an elevated first floor and underground, along with a generous provision for inter-modal connectivity, vehicle and bus parking have been planned,” the official said.

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