Chennai Central station redevelopment bid opening deferred to June 30
According to sources, established players are being sought for the same so that unblemished services can be provided to the passengers.
Chennai: The opening of bids for the redevelopment of the Chennai Central station has been pushed to June 30 with Southern Railway officials mulling increasing the land parcel on the demand of interested private players.
The senior official also said that private players wanted platform ticketing to be handed over to them as part of the redevelopment contract. The date of opening of bids for Chennai Central was May 22, but officials said about three firms only have come forward so far.
According to sources, only a few takers have been found for the redevelopment bid of Chennai Central that would have private players commercially exploiting land of the railways and redeveloping the station to provide better amenities including food, restrooms, WiFi availability, books and refreshment stalls, convergence with other modes of transport.
“Yes, they wanted platform ticketing to be outsourced to private players, but that will not happen. Train operations, coach, and track maintenance, issuing tickets and platform tickets, and parcel office operations will remain with railways,” a senior official told Deccan Chronicle.
Another official privy to the development said that as per the old plan, 1.5 acres of land were to be given to private players for commercial exploitation but now, Southern Railway will be increasing the land parcel.
“We are looking at providing more platform and circulating areas, thus more station development area to the private players as they would be leasing the land for 45 years,” said the official.
According to sources, established players are being sought for the same so that unblemished services can be provided to the passengers.
“Howrah station in West Bengal, being redeveloped at ' 400 crore has allotted 10 acres of land to private players. Even stations like Bangalore Central and Yeshwantpur in Karnataka have given over 4 to 6 acres of land. We would also be increasing land parcel,” said an official.
The commercial operations at station platforms like that of food outlets, water kiosks, stall and building toilets, which lay with the commercial department of the railways would be completely privatised.