The next time you land up at some stations, if you are not a frequent traveller, chances are you may be in for a pleasant surprise. Untidy platforms, gutkha spitting, foul smell may no longer present you a nightmarish experience. For, the railway ministry is set to approach Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design (NID) to redesign select stations.
If all goes well, some of the stations may wear a swanky look as early as next year. However, these stations don?t fall in the categories of those included in the world-class station project.
The ministry is likely to select about 20 railway stations for upgrade. Sources said both A and B category stations will be taken up for redesigning under the project.
The railways will approach NID with the project once it finalises the list of stations.
An official announcement to this effect is likely to be made in the rail Budget 2008-09, sources close to the development told FE.
The stations are likely to be developed through the public private partnership (PPP) route. However, the details for financing their redevelopment are still being worked out. Much of the plans will also depend on the designs prepared by the design institute.
A Rail Bhawan official said, ?We want to provide modern facilities at all our stations and are taking up stations in batches for doing so.?
The ministry has already shortlisted 22 railway stations, which it plans to develop into world-class stations with modern amenities.
The stations include New Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and Patna. These stations are being offered to private players to be redesigned and redeveloped. Bidding work on few stations, including New Delhi and Patna, has begun.