The Ministry of Railways has identified 15 railway stations for redevelopment under the public-private partnership model, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha yesterday (7 August).
The announcement forms part of the broader Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to upgrade 1,337 stations nationwide with modern amenities and world-class facilities.
Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh has already been developed and commissioned under the PPP framework, serving as a benchmark for future projects.
The remaining stations include Vijayawada, Coimbatore Junction, Chennai Central, Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Bhopal, Vadodara, and several Mumbai suburban stations including Andheri, Dadar and Kalyan.
The Rail Land Development Authority plans to implement a hybrid PPP model offering investors up to 40 per cent of total project costs as viability gap funding.
However, the initiative has faced challenges attracting private investment.
The proposal for Vijayawada Railway Station received approval from the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee, but the Rs 946.60 crore project failed to attract any bidders in its initial tender. The ministry has since re-invited bids for the project.
The remaining 14 stations are currently at various stages of master planning and financial modelling, according to the railway minister.
The station redevelopment programme encompasses improvements to passenger access, waiting halls, circulating areas, sanitation facilities and connectivity, with designs inspired by local culture and heritage.
