World-class rly station to become reality

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today announced that bidding work to develop the Chandigarh railway station will be undertaken soon as it was among the first five stations chosen to be developed as world-class stations.

The local railway station will be developed as world class on 500 acres. The railway board will hold a bidding process to allocate work soon. The draft for giving a facelift to the railway station has already been approved jointly by the Chandigarh Administration and the railway authorities. Ambala Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Dinesh Kumar said the tender documents were in the final stage.

After holding a meeting with all stakeholders, formal bidding would take place for allocating work for the project.

According to the plan, this will be a self-financed project and will provide for commercial development of 2.5 million sq ft area for  hotels, a mall and shops.

Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Limited, in consultation with a German consultant, has prepared a concept plan for 500 acre railway land in Chandigarh for its “redevelopment”.

The DRM said waiting and extended services for passengers would be available on the first floor of the station and passengers would be allowed entry to the platform only on the arrival of a train.

There would be a bank, food beverage, food court, cloak rooms and a VIP waiting lounge on the first floor. Sources said emphasis would be laid on providing all facilities to passengers at the station complex itself.