Lok Sabha Question No. 2408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Smart Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2408 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.12.2018

## SMART RAILWAY STATION

2408. SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  station  redevelopment  project  is  estimated  to cost over Rs. 1 lakh crore for 600 stations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether these redevelopmental efforts will lead to creation of state  of  the  art  smart  stations  that  will  function  as  mini  smart cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government's approval was obtained for station redevelopment  on  24.06.2015  to  redevelop  A1  and  A  category stations, but it failed to take off; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2408 BY SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.12.2018 REGARDING SMART RAILWAY STATION

- (a) Government has recently approved Railways' proposal for redevelopment of railway stations by Indian Railway Stations Development  Corporation  Limited  (IRSDC)  as  Nodal  Agency,  through simplified procedures and for longer lease tenure.   Accordingly, all the stations on Indian Railways, located in various States  and  Union Territories of the country, have been entrusted to IRSDC for undertaking the  techno-economic  feasibility  studies.    Based  on  the  outcome  of  the feasibility studies, the stations are planned to be taken up for redevelopment in phases. The cost of station redevelopment project is to be met by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and  around  the  stations.    Therefore,  no  funds  are  earmarked  for  this purpose.
- (b)  Yes,  Madam.  The  major  components  of  redeveloped  stations  are envisaged as under:
-  Redevelopment  of  station  building  to  provide  an  iconic structure with modern state-of-the-art facilities.
-  Congestion  free  non-conflicting  entry/exit  to the  station premises. Segregation of arrival/departure of passengers- No conflict between incoming and outgoing passengers.
-  Adequate concourse without overcrowding- generally above the  platforms/lines.  All  essential  facilities  at  concoursecatering,  small  retail,  wash  rooms,  cloak  rooms,  drinking water, ATM, pharmacy, internet, etc.
-  Integration  with  other  modes  of  public/private  transport systems e.g. Bus, Metro, etc.
-  Integrating  both  sides  of  the  city,  i.e.  entry/  exit  on  both sides of the station wherever site conditions permits.
-  No parcel movement across the length of platforms.
-  User  friendly  international  signage  understandable  by  all sections of passengers.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for mutual cooperation  between  the  two  Ministries  for  integrated planning  of redevelopment of railway stations in the cities included in 'SMART Cities' and  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT) schemes. Ten stations viz., Tirupati, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Nellore, Madgaon,  Lucknow,  Gomtinagar,  Kota,  Thane  new,  Ernakulam  Jn.  and Puducherry  have  been  taken  up  for  redevelopment  under    the  'SMART Cities' scheme.

(c) & (d): Yes, Madam.   Earlier, on 24th June 2015, Cabinet had approved Railways' proposal for redevelopment of 'A1' and 'A' category stations by Zonal  Railways.    Railways  had  advertised  its  plan  to  offer  'A-1'  and  'A' category stations on Indian Railways (about 400 stations) for redevelopment  on  'as  is  where  is'  basis,  by  inviting  open  bids  from interested parties duly providing for amenities and other requirements of the  Railways.  The  cost  of  station  redevelopment  was  to  be  met  by leveraging commercial development of land and air space in and around the stations.  Twenty three stations were initially taken up for bidding in first  phase  by  Zonal  Railways  under  the  Program.  Out  of  these  23

stations, bids were received for two stations only, viz. Jammu Tawi  and Kozhikode stations, which are under evaluation. No bids were received for  other  stations.  In  view  of  the  not  so-encouraging  response,  the Government has simplified the schemes for redevelopment of stations on fast  track  like,  longer  lease  period  up  to  99  years,  allowing  multiple subleasing,  redevelopment  of  stations  through  various  business  modes etc.

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