Is it a railway station or an Airport? Newly built railway station in Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar, breaks the stereotype of an Indian railway station. It so swanky, spick and span; and well-lit that it looks like either a luxury hotel, commercial mall or an airport.
The railway station indeed will provide an airport-like experience to passengers. It houses a luxury hotel, theme-based lighting, an interfaith prayer hall and a separate baby feeding room. It is country’s first redeveloped station to bring in a five-star hotel that will sit on top of the railway tracks. Set to be inaugurated virtually this week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gandhinagar railway station is having facilities like Concourse with a capacity of 2,200 passengers, all-religion prayer hall and a 318-room five-star hotel etc.
Asked about the thought behind such swanky railway station, Railway Board Chairman Mr Suneet Sharma said, “The station has been developed at par with airports for enhanced public satisfaction.” It is spread across 7,400 square meters and has been built at a cost of Rs 790 crore.
As part of this larger redevelopment project, work on 125 stations is in progress. Out of these, the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) is working on 63, and the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) on 60 with two other stations being taken up by railway zones.
Let’s have a close look of few outstanding photographs and videos for India’s new Classic transformation –