Railways to set up 400 model stations under public-private partnership mode

The Ministry of Railways has announced plans to set up 400 model stations across the country under the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat here on Thursday, said that a joint venture company will be set up between the Central and State Governments for implementation of the project.

He said 17 state governments have already agreed to float the company. He said that the model stations will be set up on fifty-fifty cost sharing basis.

Prabhu was in Kolkata to review pending railway projects in the state. He assured Banerjee that all ongoing railway projects would be completed on time, and that steps would be taken to improve railway connectivity with ports and tourist spots in West Bengal.

Referring to the East-West Metro rail project that will connect Salt Lake and Howrah, Prabhu said that this will be operational from June 2018 and added that the escalated cost of the project of 735 crore rupees would be borne by the Railways.

Work on the project would begin again next month, he said.