Railways to ask NBCC to redevelop two stations

The railways is mulling a plan to offer two stations to National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) for conversion into the country's "most- modern" rail premises as part of a redevelopment plan, reported PTI. "We are in discussions with NBCC for redevelopment of Gomtinagar station in Lucknow and Bhubaneswar station in Odisha," said a senior Railway Ministry official. The plan for modernisation of the two stations is part of a railways' initiative to redevelop 400 major stations across the country. Talking about the project, NBCC Chairman and Managing Director Anoop Kumar Mittal said, "The modalities are being worked out. After receiving the work order, we will prepare detailed project reports for the two stations." The plan envisages vertical development of rail premises with the construction of shopping malls, eateries, parking lot, office complex and other commercial ventures, he said as per the media report. The redevelopment plan is to be implemented on a turnkey basis. NBCC would prepare a business model for leveraging the real estate development of the two stations. Mittal said the real estate prospects differ from station to station. "One can leverage the real estate to develop modern facilities at stations. Once we get a concrete offer, we will decide how to go about it," he said. Railways wants to showcase a few station modernisation projects to attract private players for such projects. It is already working on the modernisation of a few stations such as Brijawasan and Anand Vihar in Delhi and Habibganj in Bhopal. NBCC, a PSU of Urban Development Ministry, is engaged in the business of project management consultancy services for civil construction projects and civil infrastructure for power sector and real estate development.