HYDERABAD: The Centre is planning to modernized Secunderabad railway station which is one among the 23 identified for redevelopment by the private sector.

The government had cleared a plan to redevelop 44 stations last January. The Secunderabad railway station is 143-year-old made in the British-era. The station is planned to modify as airport like ambiance with swank restaurants and shopping complexes.

The Secunderabad station caters to 1.6 lakh passengers daily connecting the north and south of the country as well as the south to the east.
M Umashankar Kumar, chief public relations officer, South Central Railway said.”A blueprint of the development plan is being prepared by SCR authorities currently. Once the blueprint is ready, it will be sent to the Ministry of Railways for approval.”

The cost of redevelopment is expected to be around Rs 4,000 crore and the government will earn at least Rs 4,000 crore as upfront fee from developers. The lease will be for 45 years. The overall investment is estimated to be around Rs 25,000 crore.

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) the global management consulting firm conducted feasibility studies for 55 stations, found 23 including the Secunderabad station requiring an overhaul. Among the other stations that will be revamped are the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stations.