The Gandhinagar Capital railway station, the country’s first redeveloped station set to be inaugurated this week, will provide an airport-like experience to passengers with facilities .Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the station on July 16.
Its redevelopment was conceptualised in 2016 as part of the railways’ ambitious project to transform stations into world-class 24×7 transport and business hubs. These hubs are to be called “Railopolis” and aim offer great business opportunities and attract huge investments.
The officials said , the upgraded station has an interfaith prayer hall – a first for the country’s vast railway network – a column-free, sleek and economical space frame spanning 105-meter over the platform with all-weather aluminium sheeting for the comfort of passengers. The roof is in the shape of an arch.
In the near future, it is planned to open retail, food and entertainment outlets in the area for passengers as well as the local population, it said.
Market players such as Big Bazaar and Shoppers Stop have shown interest in opening their mini outlets at the station, the railways said, adding the redeveloped station will function like a “city centre rail mall” where travel will be one of the several functions.
The platforms are well connected through two subways with adequate seating capacity and two each of escalators and elevators, it said.
The project is developed in partnership with the Government of Gujarat and the Ministry of Railways through the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation.
“The joint venture company named Gandhinagar Railway and Urban Development Corporation is the first of its kind project and will pave the way for similar development in land stressed cities like Mumbai and Bangalore,” Suneet Sharma, chairman & CEO Railway Board, said on Thursday at a press meet also addressed by Aarti Kanwar, resident commissioner, Government of Gujarat.
Sharma said that work on the redevelopment of 125 stations is in progress along with a similar model of development. Out of this, IRSDC is working on 63 stations, and Railway Land Development Authority is working on 60 stations with two stations being taken up by zonal railways. The total investment for the redevelopment of 123 stations along with real estate development is more than Rs 50,000 crore.
