9 countries to extend expertise in station redevelopment

New Delhi: More than half a dozen countries, including France, China, Germany, and Russia, have tied up with Railways to extend expertise in redeveloping stations across the country, Lok Sabha was told today.

Railways has signed MoUs with nine countries for technical cooperation in rail sector, including in station development, MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha said in a written reply.

The MoUs are with Slovak Republic, UK, Japan, China, France, Belgium, Russia, Czech Republic and Germany for ties in rail sector through expert meetings, information exchange and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation projects.

Railways has advertised its plan to redevelop 400 major stations and invited proposals from developers with their designs and business ideas.

Besides, redevelopment of eight stations – Anand Vihar, Bijwasan, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Habibganj, Shivaji Nagar (Pune), Surat and SAS Nagar (Mohali) has been entrusted to Indian Railway Station Development Corporation, he said.

The entire cost of station redevelopment is to be met by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the stations, Sinha said.

PTI