New Delhi railway station redevelopment tender reissued, says RLDA

Trimmed-out redevelopment plan to cost Rs 2,500 crore, says RLDA

After over a decade of delays, the Ministry of Railways has once again attempted to kickstart the redevelopment of the New Delhi Railway Station, according to the national transporter’s station development body, the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).

The latest tender will see the project executed at Rs 2,469 crore, following the ministry’s decision to scale back the initial tender and reduce the project’s scope.

“This comprehensive development plan envisions the station as an integrated transportation hub that seamlessly connects rail, Metro, bus, and other modes of transport, ensuring convenient and hassle-free connectivity for passengers,” RLDA statement read.

According to the request for proposal document, a pre-bid conference will take place on Tuesday in New Delhi, followed by a site visit.

An official familiar with the developments noted that the latest tender addresses all cost-related concerns within the industry, adding that the document has been refined through multiple consultations over the year. Earlier this year, the ministry planned to float the tender in July, the official said.

The main components of the project include the construction of two linear station buildings on the Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate sides, an air concourse featuring arrival and departure plazas, a waiting area, vertical circulation elements such as lifts and escalators, retail areas, and other services to facilitate passengers.

While the project was initially conceptualised as a public-private partnership, a sudden reversal in September 2022 resulted in fresh approval from the Union Cabinet, converting the project into engineering, procurement, and construction mode.

Subsequently, the tender was scrapped when the two bids submitted by Larsen & Toubro and Shapoorji Pallonji were nearly Rs 9,000 crore, against an estimated cost of Rs 4,700 crore approved by the Cabinet.

“An elevated and ground-level road network will provide seamless connectivity to the station and help decongest the roads. Platform works, a parcel area, and two parcel tunnels will facilitate the smooth handling of parcels, along with parking and circulation facilities. The revamped New Delhi Railway Station will showcase a modern and sophisticated design enriched with state-of-the-art technology,” RLDA added.

Over the past decade, the redevelopment project has been launched multiple times, albeit without any breakthroughs.