Question : Modernization of Railway Stations

(a) the present status of the modernization of Railway Stations programme proposed by the Government across the country including Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this programme across the country, State/UT-wise including Kerala;

(c) whether the pace of this programme is slow in some of the States, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government is planning to install plasma screens at some of the Railway Stations under this programme and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Government has installed these screens on trial basis at some of the selected stations within the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with its response; and

(f) the details of the funds likely to be sanctioned for the aforesaid programme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3158 BY SHRI GEORGE BAKER, PROF. RICHARD HAY AND SHRI ANIL SHIROLE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 14.03.2018 REGARDING MODERNIZATION OF RAILWAY STATIONS

(a) to (c): Union Cabinet approved Railways’ proposal for redevelopment of ‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category stations (total about 400 stations, including ‘A-1’ and ‘A’ category stations in Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra) on ‘as is where is’ basis, by inviting open bids from interested parties with their designs and business ideas duly providing for amenities and other requirements of the Railways including permitting commercial development of real estate by Zonal Railways. Bids were called for 23 stations in the first phase of Station Redevelopment Programme. Out of the 23 stations, bids were received for Jammu Tawi and Kozhikode stations only, which are under evaluation. No bids were received for 18 stations and 3 tenders were called off after 9 months in view of the not-so-encouraging response for these stations.
A dedicated organization viz. Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Ltd. (IRSDC) was set up in the year 2012 for the purpose of station redevelopment on Indian Railways. Six stations viz., Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Habibganj (Bhopal), Shivaji Nagar (Pune) and Surat have been entrusted to Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Ltd. (IRSDC) for redevelopment. Works at Gandhinagar and Habibganj stations have commenced.
An MOU has been signed by Ministry of Railways with Ministry of Urban Development for integrated planning for station redevelopment projects in cities identified as SMART cities in association with Smart City authorities. The following ten (10) stations have been taken up for redevelopment under this scheme, jointly by Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) & National Building Construction Company (NBCC) : -
Tirupati, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Nellore, Madgaon, Lucknow, Gomtinagar, Kota, Thane New, Ernakulam Jn. and Puducherry.
Rail Land Development Authority has been entrusted to redevelop Safdarjung Station in New Delhi along with IRCON.
Bhubaneswar station is being developed with the co-operation/participation of the State Govt. of Odisha. The State Govt. has agreed to construct a new station building at Bhubaneswar station at their own cost.
Redevelopment of stations is planned through leveraging of commercial development of vacant land/air space in and around stations. Therefore, no funds have been earmarked for the purpose. Such projects shall generally be cost neutral to Railways.
At present, Ministry of Railways is formulating revised schemes for station redevelopment on fast track. The proposals for redevelopment of more stations will be taken up, once the revised strategy for redevelopment of stations is finalized.

(d) No, Madam.

(e) & (f): Do not arise.
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