Vijayawada: Following a lackluster response from contractors to the Vijayawada railway redevelopment project, the Indian Railways (IR) will soon float fresh tenders for the redevelopment of the Vijayawada railway station. The railways have invited bids for the station works worth Rs 946.60 crore, which include Rs 661.11 crore in mandatory development works under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) method, commonly known as the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Background of the Project
The Ministry of Railways (MoR) has identified a total of 15 stations for development on a PPP model across the country, including Vijayawada station. The railways have already executed most railway station development works in Andhra Pradesh, including major stations like Visakhapatnam, Nellore, and Tirupati, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). However, the Vijayawada station redevelopment is the first in the region to be executed under the PPP model. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has been entrusted with the project execution.
Challenges and Stakeholder Feedback
“Since the project is being executed under the PPP model, which is perhaps a first in this region for a railway station, the developers interested in taking part in the project require plenty of time to study and understand the guidelines before filing the tender bids,” a representative from a consultancy firm involved in the stakeholder meeting said. This need for additional preparation time has necessitated the reissuance of tenders.
Planned Upgrades
Under the station redevelopment project, the Vijayawada station will receive an airport-like facelift. Key improvements include:
- Redevelopment of the East and West side terminal buildings
- A wider foot over bridge connecting all platforms
- Multi-level car parking
- Revamping of all 10 platforms to handle 20,000 passengers during peak hours
These upgrades aim to enhance passenger experience and streamline operations at one of the busiest railway stations in the region.
