MADURAI: Southern Railway has identified Madurai station to develop world-class passenger amenities under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The move comes close on the heels of Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra writing to zonal General Managers to go for private investments in non-core activities.

In a recent communication, Mr. Batra had said that massive investment was required for augmenting capacity and modernisation of track, rolling stock and signalling equipment in the railways. As the contribution of internal generation (of revenue) and budgetary support was limited, the railways would have to necessarily depend on private investments.

A `PPP Cell' headed by an Adviser (Infrastructure) was created to co-ordinate with all zones for such projects where private investment was roped in. Some of the tentative projects proposed were development of world class terminals, rail connectivity to neighbouring districts, railway electrification and operation of tourist special trains, he said.

At the Madurai railway station, officials have proposed ticketing machines connected to automatically operated gates. Payment gateways (Automated Teller Machines, Internet Shopping etc), shopping malls, travel amenities stall, hotel booking and foreign tourists' lobby are some of the services planned in a multi-crore centrally air-conditioned building proposed at the eastern entry.

"We have identified a core team of senior officers to conceptualise, pursue and implement the projects. With major projects such as the Information Technology Park coming up in Madurai, getting offers from the corporate sector for PPP schemes would become easy," Additional Divisional Railway Manager M. Suyambulingam told The Hindu on Saturday.

A new parcel complex that would handle express parcels in Madurai was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 48 lakh, he added.

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