The Centre is working on the formation of Railway Stations Authority of India on the lines of Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop modern railway stations across the country with advanced amenities, the Union Minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi, said here today.

“We have already announced the constitution of a Railway Stations Authority of India on the lines of AAI to develop modern railway stations with all facilities. The drawing board is ready and once other formalities are over, its Chairman, Managing Director and other officials too would be announced,” Mr Trivedi told reporters here after inspecting the Habibganj railway station.

When asked whether he will make this announcement in the next rail budget, Mr Trivedi said there was no point in waiting until then. “It is a continuous process and we are working on it. Rail budget is just a one-day affair while we have to continuously plan for this in the remaining 364 days.”

The Railways Minister arrived here this morning for a meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and other MPs to discuss ways for the expansion of railway facilities in Madhya Pradesh.

To a question on plans to create world-class railway stations, he said the Ministry is working towards it.

“Any station can be called as world-class only when it has facilities at par with at least modern airports. World-class is a concept. It should have duty-free shops, library, neat and clean rooms and hotels among others,” Mr Trivedi said.

He said the Railways can work on the PPP model to create such facilities as it has a lot of land in its kitty and can enter into partnerships with large companies who can invest capital in such projects.

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