Bongaigaon, Furkating & Jagiroad to be model stations

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Aug 19: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu had communicated to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that three railway stations of the State - Furkating, Jagiroad and Bongaigaon - will be developed as model railway stations. The Railway ministry has plans to develop 400 model railway stations this fiscal.

Gogoi had recommended the mes of the three railway stations which were accepted by the Railways ministry.

A proposal to redevelop about 400 railways stations in metros and major cities besides pilgrim centres and tourist spots was cleared by the government last month. The Union Cabinet had gave its approval for redevelopment of the railway stations on 'as is where is' basis to accelerate the process of revamping them.

Under this model, interested parties coming through open bids would develop the stations with their designs and business ideas while commercial development of real estate would be allowed by the Zol Railways.

The 'as is where is' model would entail a much simpler process for faster redevelopment, with more focus on vertical expansion.

"The 'A-1' and 'A' category stations (about 400) shall be offered for redevelopment by inviting open bids from interested parties.

"These stations are to be developed by leveraging real estate development of land and air space in and around the stations," a government statement said, adding that the model would also encourage innovative ideas from interested parties "at no cost to the railways". The 'as is where is' model was floated by the Railways to redevelop a large number of stations as the Indian Stations Development Corporation could undertake redevelopment of only some identified stations in the country, the statement said.