Rail Budget 2016-17: Bhopal's Habibganj to get world class amenities

Bhopal: Habibganj railway station in Bhopal is all set to be redeveloped into a world-class railway station.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in his budget speech that the contract for redevelopment of Habibganj station in Bhopal has been finalised.

Besides Habibganj, four other stations - Chandigarh, Anand Vihar and Brijwasan (both in Delhi), and Shivaji Nagar (Pune) - have been identified for redevelopment. The process for these 4 stations is in an advanced stage of bidding.

The railways is working on a plan to turn Habibganj into a major hub of central India.

Prabhu also pointed out that the cabinet has approved redevelopment of 400 stations through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

“This is expected to be the largest transit-oriented development in the world and, hence, involves complex decision making. On the basis of a bankable structure for private participation, it is proposed to undertake a bidding process for a few large and medium stations during the course of the next financial year,” he said.