The redevelopment work of the country’s first railway station, Habibganj railway station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh under public private partnership (PPP) mode is going on in full swing.
Around 97.95 percent of civil work has already been completed at the project site. The Indian Railways Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) is executing the station redevelopment project.
Habibganj station will soon become India’s first airport-like world-class railway station. The tentative project completion target is December 2020.
The railway station will boast a glass dome like structure at the station entrance once fully redeveloped. At the revamped station, a dedicated concourse area will be present with airport-like retail outlets and food cafeterias. The railway station will also boast a plush waiting lounge with modern toilets for passengers.
The upgraded railway station will also have refurbished, world-class interiors with a museum as well as gaming zones. Apart from these features, decongested platforms with exit underpass will be introduced for railway passengers with de-boarding trains.
The railway station will have a green building and support energy-efficient LED lighting along with waste water treatment plant for reuse.
For this station redevelopment project, IRSDC is implementing the plan on PPP model along with the Bansal Group. The station is being revamped on the lines of Germany’s Heidelberg railway station.
The Gandhinagar railway station in Gujarat will also complete redevelopment works by December 2020. The revamped Gandhinagar railway station, in a first, will boast a five-star hotel above the rail tracks. The hotel will be run by the Leela Group.
The station will have a revamped building with its concourse area comprising retail shops such as Big Bazaar, Shoppers Stop, among others as well as food courts.