India’s first renovated and re-developed railway station is soon to be inaugurated by PM Modi. Gandhinagar Capital railway station is used as a base plan to modernise railway stations through Public Private Partnerships. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the railway station on 16th July 2021.
How the plan was framed?
The redevelopment of the station has been planned by leveraging real estate potential of separable land and air space in and around the stations, through private participation. Notably, the redeveloped hubs will be called Railopolis.
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Essential details about the Railway Station
Revealing the further and essential details about the station, the PMO earlier had said that the Station has been provided with world class amenities at par with modern airports. Moreover, the special care has been taken to make it a Divyang friendly station with a special ticket booking counter, ramps, lifts, dedicated parking space etc.
The PMO stated that the complete building is designed and provided with Green Building rating features and the state-of-the-art external façade will have daily theme-based lighting with 32 themes. Moreover, the station will also house a five-star hotel.
Joint venture For a Special Purpose
For this particular Gandhinagar Capital station, a joint venture special purpose vehicle (SPV) namely Gandhinagar Railway and Urban Development (GARUD) was formed with equity contribution of Government of Gujarat (GoG) and Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC) in the ratio of 74:26 respectively.
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Other facilities at the station for convenient use
The super facilities at the railway station include segregated entry and exit through landscaped area, Divyang friendly special ticket-booking counter, ramps, lifts, dedicated parking space, inter-faith prayer hall, a first for Indian Railways, dedicated exclusive art gallery with live LED wall display lounge.
The Inauguration schedule
On July 16, PM Modi will virtually inaugurate the newly-built five-star hotel atop the redeveloped Gandhinagar railway station and a host of other big-ticket projects.
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Centre’s plan for the re-development of Railway Stations and PPP technique
Centre may first lease out 90 railway stations on Public Private Partnership basis through Indian Railways’ nodal agency for station redevelopment Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation. In October 2019, the government had decided to set up a committee to draft a blueprint for transferring operations of 150 trains and 50 railway stations to private players.
Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant in a letter to then railway board chairman VK Yadav, chairman, Railway Board had stated that an empowered group be formed to drive the process in a time-bound manner.
Centre may first lease out 90 railway stations on Public Private Partnership basis through IRSDC, the Indian Railways’ nodal agency for station redevelopment. The Railway Board is also under discussion whether the provision of security infrastructure should be excluded or whether the railways should replicate the airport model.
