The Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) yesterday (25 July) invited the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for Surat and Udhna stations, reports Economic Times.
The move is a part of the ongoing pursuit of the Government to redevelop the railway station infrastructure and to transform and completely overhaul the same providing modern amenities and comfort to passengers.
The redevelopment of the two stations is to be carried out with the aim of turning them into ‘Railopolis’, which would sustain as mini smart cities with mixed-use development where one could be able to live, work, play and ride.
The total area for development is 3,40,131 sq metre for the Surat Railway Station and 7,38,088 sq metre for Udhna Railway Station. Meanwhile, the built-up area (BUA) for station estate development is approximately 4, 65,000 sq metre and 37,175 sq metre for the two stations, respectively.
The redevelopment is indicated to be completed over a four-year timeframe with an investment of Rs 1,285 crore.
“Surat is a vibrant commercial and industrial hub and among the fastest-growing cities in the world. The Surat and Udhna railway station redevelopment project aims to further strengthen the local economy and boost the tourism potential of the city. The stations will be redeveloped in line with global standards to transform them at par with international airports and provide world-class amenities to the travellers. The Surat railway station is envisaged to be redeveloped into a multi-modal transport hub (MMTH), thus providing a hassle-free and comfortable travel experience to the commuters,” said SK Lohia, MD and CEO, IRSDC.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the work on the redevelopment of as many as 125 stations is presently in progress. Out of this, IRSDC is working on 63 stations, and Rail land Development Authority (RLDA) is working on 60 stations.