Railway body finalises developers for multi-functional complexes

The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), a statutory authority for generation of non-tariff revenue and creation of assets for Indian Railways, has finalised developers and sites have been awarded to them for setting up multi-functional complexes (MFCs) at seven stations in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone.

These will be developed at Dharmavaram, Kache-guda, Karimnagar, Nellore, Nizamabad, Vijayawada and Zahirabad stations at a cost of Rs 22.34 crore.

The SCR stated the MFCs would provide facilities including shopping, restaurants, book stalls, PCO booths, ATMs, medical and other stores, budget hotels, food plaza and parking spaces to rail users. These sites are being offered on 30-45 years lease through the open bidding process to the private sector.

In all, 13 stations have been identified in the SCR zone for the development of MFCs, including the seven stations. Among the others, the MFCs at Hyderabad and Rajahmundry have already been constructed and leased out. MFCs at Aurangabad and Guntur are ready for commercialisation. The MFCs at Kurnool and Nanded are under process of tendering to finalise agencies for taking up development works.