The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Plans to modernise railway station go off the track

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Sunday, Feb 20, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Plans to modernise railway station go off the track

Staff Reporter

It was intended to develop the Secunderabad Railway Station vertically by constructing platforms on different floors

Photo: G. RAMAKRISHNA

Long wait: Proposal to develop Secunderabad Railway Station as world-class station remains on paper. –

Hyderabad: Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had announced about it in his Railway Budget. Then, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee made the same announcement in her 2009 budget, yet plans to develop Secunderabad railway station into a world-class station remain on papers.

As per the railways plans, the project was to be taken up under Public-Private-Partnership mode. It was intended to develop the station vertically by constructing platforms on different floors and connecting them with escalators.

There were plans to generate commercial revenue by having malls, restaurants, etc. in some floors and improve passenger facilities with the provision of booking offices, waiting halls on different floors. All these plans were disclosed by former Railway Board Chairman K.C. Jena, when inspected Secunderabad station in September 2008.

He further informed that consultants would be hired to develop a master plan of the project, which was estimated to cost Rs.6,000 crore.

There were plans to develop Tirupati Railway Station into a world-class station as well.Railway authorities had issued global tenders in September 2009 inviting consultants to prepare master plan of the project.

It was also decided to set a time frame of 10 months for the consultants to sketch the master plan.

However, till date railway authorities have not selected a consultant.

“There was a delay in finalising the terms of reference for selecting the consultants. However, authorities have finalised the details and hopefully, consultants will be selected in another three months,” said the SCR spokesperson.

With Metro Rail works already commenced, railway authorities are keen to take up the project.

“We have already convened couple of meetings with Metro Rail authorities to discuss different issues, including the route that passes over Secunderabad station,” the spokesperson said.

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