Railways to set up 400 model stations under PPP scheme

The model stations having supermarket, salon, restaurants, etc will be set up on 50-50 cost sharing basis with states. While speaking on rail modernisation plans, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said the national transporter was on its way to <g data-gr-id="40">construct</g> 400 model railway stations this fiscal year, adding that railways <g data-gr-id="37">has</g> already implemented as many as 79 of the announcements made in the Rail Budget for the year.

Prabhu, who met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, said a joint venture company will be set up between the Central and state governments for implementation of the project. 

“We have already signed MoUs with Maharashtra and Odisha and are on our way to do the same with a total of 17 states as all of them have agreed to float the company and the model stations will be set up on fifty-fifty cost sharing basis,” Prabhu said after reviewing the pending rail projects in West Bengal.

Assuring Banerjee of timely completion of the ongoing projects and more railway connectivity with the ports and tourist spots in West Bengal, Prabhu said, “West Bengal will also be participating in the modernisation of railway stations.”

He said Maharashtra had agreed to pump in Rs 10,000 crore over the next 10 <g data-gr-id="33">years,</g> while the railways would invest Rs 70-80,000 crore in Maharashtra over the next five years.

Prabhu also declared that first phase of East-West Metro rail connecting Salt Lake and Howrah will be operational from June 2018. “All the problems that were blocking the project will be ironed out and I will come to Kolkata by September end to launch the technical part of the project, which includes track laying and setting up the tunnel across the Hooghly river to reach Howrah Maidan. The cost escalated for the project worth Rs 735 crore will be borne by the railways and the work will resume next month,” he said.

Prabhu stressed on improving rail connectivity in Bengal for improving linkage with port and the mineral belts. Stressing on need for more rail links for boosting tourism in Bengal, Prabhu said, “The railways will be signing an agreement with Unesco for running Darjeeling toy train soon as it is a world heritage declared site by Unesco.”

He also assured the West Bengal government that the railways would clear all obstacles for Joka BBD Bag Metro and will take the necessary clearances from the Finance and Defence Ministries. He also informed that the ministry would set up an online clearance mechanism for the Rail Over Bridges, so the state PWD could easily get the necessary sanction for the ROB and it would be cleared within a month.

Banerjee asked Prabhu for <g data-gr-id="45">special</g> scheme for Bhadutala in Jangalmahal as it was not going to be a commercially viable one. She said there would be no forcible eviction, only by paying compensation the people will be removed, as the Land Bill was still pending in Parliament. Banerjee said there were bottlenecks in between Noapara and Dakshineswar which was to be removed and for that Prabhu wanted regular meeting between the railways and the state officials.