Work for the redevelopment of Nagpur, Sabarmati, Amritsar and Gwalior stations may soon move one step further.
The Indian Railways Station Development Corporation (IRSDCL) has set a deadline of 26th June 2020 for submission of bids against the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for redevelopment projects planned at Nagpur, Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), Amritsar and Gwalior.
IRSDC invited RFQs (Request for Qualification) in December 2019 for the four cities.
The projects are planned on DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) model. A concession period is of 60 years is planned for the station and station area redevelopment. The residential side of the redevelopment will receive a concession of 99 years, according to IRSDCL.
The redevelopment project is to be awarded after a two stage bidding process, starting with the RFQ and the RFP (Request for Proposal).
IRSDCL will then select from among the eligible bidders the concessionaire who will then undertake upgradation and redevelopment of the railway station and the adjacent railway land.
The concessionaire will also operate and maintain the premises.
In the history of Indian Railways, these four redevelopment projects are the first which have received the approval of the Public-Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC), formed by GOI for PPP projects.
IRSDC will be a single window for approval of master plan and building plans in consultation with local authorities in terms of power conferred under Section 11 of Railway Act, 1989.
With the intimation on ‘User Charges’ by MoR, GoI, an additional revenue stream will be available as in practice in other infrastructure sectors like highways, airports etc.
IRSDC is a Joint venture company of RLDA and IRCON with 50:50 ownership. RITES may also join shortly as another promoter with 24% equity. IRSDC has been entrusted to implement the task of Railway Station development/ redevelopment projects of the Ministry of Railways, GoI.