The ambitious plan to transform the Pune railway station into a world-class model will chug along in a slow mode.
The ambitious plan to transform the Pune railway station into a world-class model will chug along in a slow mode.
The railway board member (engineering), AP Mishra, said the project will take at least 5 to 6 years for implementation.
“A project consultant will be appointed by this year end and, if things go well, the actual work would begin only after 2 years. Fund constraints and space crunch have slowed down the implementation of the world-class station project across all railway divisions,” he said.
Speaking to the media after attending the 53rd foundation day function of the Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering (IRICEN) on Saturday, Mishra said the institute has taken many steps to develop the infrastructure for training, besides equipping officers with knowledge in advance technology.
Citing a reason for the project’s delay, he said, “A consultant agency quoted a proposal of Rs12,000 crore for the Delhi railway station project. It is not feasible for railways to spend so much money on the project, as we need money for network expansion.”
Mishra said the world-class station plan will be converted and managed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, wherein some space would be given for commercial activities.
However, he said that all selected stations, including Pune, face problems pertaining to space and logistics, as there is hardly any vacant space near stations for commercial development.
“Therefore, we are now taking a relook at the guidelines and, if necessary, revised specifications would be set,” Mishra said.
The railways official said a target has been set to lay new lines of around 1,000 km every year, and to add around 25,000 km of rail lines by 2020. The railways plans to increase passenger train speed from 110-130km per hour to 160-200 km per hour.
He said the number of accidents have reduced by at least 20% as compared to last year’s statistics for railways.
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