Multi-functional complexes to come up at railway stations soon

The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has commenced process to identify railway lands under Trichy division that can be used to develop multi-functional complexes (MFCs). The RLDA has already leased out a piece of land near Trichy junction station to an agency for developing an MFC and has invited bids for another land near the Fort station.
While the site located near Trichy junction has an area of 532 sq m, the one near Fort Station has an area of 2,350 sq m, sources said, adding that the facilities that would be established on both the lands are yet to be finalised.
The RLDA has given the responsibility of developing MFCs through IRCON, RITES, RVNL and also by private sector. A multi-functional complex will provide facilities like shopping malls, food stalls, restaurants, book stalls, PCO booths, ATMs, medical stores, budget hotels and parking spaces to rail users at railway stations. Sites are being offered on 30-45 years lease on upfront lease premium or revenue sharing basis through MOU to public sector units and through open bidding process to private sector, sources said.

To execute the process, the RLDA first identifies the vacant land and checks for size, accessibility and whether it is worth to raise revenue. On the basis of the information it invites tender.
Trichy Fort station which is located 4km away from Trichy junction has been registering an average of 3,400 passengers daily. Sixteen trains pass through the station. The average passenger ticket earning per day is Rs 44,000 from Unreserved Ticketing booking System, while it is Rs 1.70 lakh from the Passenger Reservation System.
Apart from the above stations, the RLDA has also prepared blueprints of vacant spaces at Nagapattinam, Pattukottai, Villupuram railway stations.
Commenting on the railways move to make use of unutilised vacant sites, trade union authorities said that a long term lease on such lands was not a viable option. "The lands should be leased out only for short terms. That would be good for railways," said D Manoharan, Deputy General Secretary of DREU.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/multi-functional-complexes-to-come-up-at-railway-stations-soon/articleshow/59871064.cms