Bhopal Set To Open India’s First World-Class Station

Habibganj railway station in Bhopal, which has been re-developed as the country’s first world-class station, complete with facilities equivalent to a modern airport, is to be dedicated on November 15 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The New Indian Express reports. The station has been equipped with modern facilities after being developed by the Indian Railways Station Development Corp. at a cost of Rs 450 crore (US$60.5 million). The renewed station will feature lifts, escalators and moving walks, and will have amenities including lounges, ATMs and more. A senior official from the Railway Board said the escalators and moving walks give the station “an ultramodern look.” The job includes fire safety, crowd management, access control and CCTV surveillance. The station also is following green-design norms, such as lights operated by an energy-efficient system with solar-energy backup. Other facilities like washrooms, catering points, drinking water kiosks and senior citizen-friendly amenities have also been provided. There is a water treatment plant for reuse of water, and a 24-hour Wi-Fi service. The source reported that the railway ministry is working to develop 123 world-class railway stations following the mode of the Bhopal design.