Secunderabad, Vijayawada rail stations set for upgrade

Secunderabad and Vijayawada rail stations will be redeveloped with estimated investments of Rs 282 crore and Rs 194 crore, respectively, a senior official said today.
Under the Station Redevelopment Programme of Railways, Secunderabad and Vijayawada will receive Rs 282 crore and Rs 194 crore, respectively, for improving passenger amenities and providing other facilities, said South Central Railway (SCR) General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav.
The two Andhra cities are among the 23 stations chosen for redevelopment.
"The idea behind this ambitious programme is to develop 400 stations and make them of international standards. Of these, 23 have been taken up, to be followed by the remaining stations in subsequent phases," Yadav said.

Bid documents related to redevelopment of the two stations and other details were uploaded on SCR website today, he said.
Yadav said the scheme is being undertaken under a Modified Swiss Challenge method, adapting the QCBS (Quality and Cost Based Solution) system by identifying a project proponent who will prepare a detailed report.

"The project will seek to involve State Governments, various Central Government wings and global experts."
At Secunderabad station, 1.50 lakh footfalls are registered every day and it is served by 230 passenger- carrying trains generating earnings of Rs 2 crore a day.
The top SCR official said 5.62 acres of reserved Railway land situated adjacent to the station is available for leveraging the real estate potential.