The process for developing railway stations as multi-function complexes (MFCs) with private participation has moved ahead. The Indian Railways has finalised the names of those private developers who will be carrying out the work in five stations to begin with. These stations are in Cuttack, Dehra Dun, Jhansi, Katra and Nanded.
With the railways going in for private sector participation in the development of these MFCs for the first time, the developers, who have won the bids to do the work are Keshari Estates Pvt. Ltd for Cuttack, Janak Holdings for Dehra Dun and Nanded, Bhagwati Infraestate Pvt. Ltd. for Jhansi and MGC Estates for Katra.
Bids had been invited for the Ujjain station too but the railways eventually decided to go in for re-bidding, having got bids below expectation owing apparently to what it has described as “constraints in the approach road of the site”. The MFCs will provide passengers with various facilities under the same roof. They will have shops, restaurants, food stalls, chemists, budget hotels and parking facilties.