Bhopal Railway Station is set to get a new identity as modern City Center, serving as gateway through which visitors would get their first impression of the city. Rs 100 crores are provisioned to spend only on Bhopal Railway Station for its beautification, facilities and construction. Gone are the days when railway stations had imagination like a dirty, dilapidated and a chaotic place. After Bina, Bhopal station will be State’s second City Center. Railways have come up with projects worth Rs 3,276 crore including the renovation of 33 stations in Madhya Pradesh, including Bhopal, under its Amrit Bharat Scheme.

 

Station that are marked for redevelopment include Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Sehore, Bina, Sanchi, Mandsaur, Chhindwara, Datia and Bhind. All the stations will be beautified with elements of local art, culture, wifi , ATMs, medical, salon, shopping centres, food plaza, entertainment zone to transform into a city center. Apart from shopping and enjoying the delicacies, visitors would be able to spend good time with their relatives, friends in the station premises. Bhopal railway station will be redeveloped under Public Participation mode (PPP). Apart from dozens of facilities, smart parking will be set up for separate drop and go lane. West Central Railway is set to call bid for the development work around the station. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr DCM) Saurabh Kataria said, “in first phase infrastructure will be developed in the new buildings at both sides of the station.

 

The station will be developed as City Center where visitors will get all possible options including entertainment, food, shopping, etc. “He further said that a meeting will be held with the civic body to remove encroachment around the station. He said that in past too Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) was asked to make the area encroachment free but it could not be held yet. He further said, Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Kendra will be set up in-front of the new building towards platform number 1. It will provide easy transportation to the resident and promote economic, social and tourism development.