CoI clears modernisation of 21 railway stations

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) In a big leap towards privatisation, the Committee on Infrastructure (CoI) today cleared the Railway Ministry's proposal for the modernisation of New Delhi and 20 other railway stations.

The modernisation proposal, aiming at providing world class facilities and infrastructure in 21 major railway stations, will be taken up through the Public Private Participation (PPP) mode and would involve an investment of more than Rs 25,000 crore.

Announcing this after a meeting of the CoI, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad told mediapersons that private players, both domestic and foreign, would use the land of the Railways to develop stations comparable to the best in Europe and America.

The minister claimed there would be no additional burden either on the passengers or on the common people as the government would accept the bids which gives the highest return.

'The process would involve Model Concession Agreement which would be finalised in six months' time, by the time the consultants give the architectural design,'' Mr Prasad said, adding that six leading consultants, including RITES, had already evinced interest in preparing architectural design for the New Delhi station project.

In the wake of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the New Delhi station project would be taken up on a war footing and the Railways intends handing over the new station before the commencement of the Games.

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