The Indian Railways’ Gandhinagar railway station in Gujarat will undergo redevelopment. One unique feature that will set apart the newly revamped Gandhinagar station is that it will be the first in India to have a five-star hotel above the railway tracks.
The hotel, to be run by the Leela Group, is expected to be ready by December 2020. The property will have over 300 rooms with ground floor 22 mtr above the ground. The entire Gandhinagar station will have towers that will give the impression of petals from an aerial view.
The three towers will have six, eight and 10 levels with the hotel making the station one of the tallest buildings in the city. Gandhinagar station will have a revamped building with concourse areas that will boast retail shops, food courts, etc for passengers.
The airport-style retail model will also help generate revenue for the Indian Railways. A dedicated transit hall will accommodate as many as 600 passengers. For retail areas, the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) is already in talks with brands such as Shoppers Stop and Big Bazaar.
The Gandhinagar railway station is being redeveloped by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) -- the Gandhinagar Railway & Urban Development Corporation (GARUD) – between IRSDC and the Gujarat government.